Shloka 53
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
तं॑ शल्य: प्राह मा कर्ण गृहीथा: पार्थिवोत्तमम् । गृहीतमात्रो हत्वा त्वां मा करिष्यति भस्मसात्
taṁ śalyaḥ prāha mā karṇa gṛhīthāḥ pārthivottamam | gṛhītamātro hatvā tvāṁ mā kariṣyati bhasmasāt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Śalya berkata kepada Karṇa, “Jangan kau tangkap raja yang utama itu; begitu kau menyentuh dan menahannya, ia akan membunuhmu dan menjadikanmu abu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, discernment and restraint are vital: pride-driven, impulsive action invites swift ruin. Wise counsel aims to prevent self-destruction by urging realistic assessment of an opponent’s strength.
During the Karṇa Parva battle account, Sañjaya reports that Śalya cautions Karṇa not to attempt to seize the foremost warrior-king (implicitly Arjuna), warning that such a move would immediately lead to Karṇa’s death and total destruction.