Shloka 16
कर्णवधोत्तरं शल्य-दुर्योधनसंवादः
Aftermath of Karṇa’s Fall: Śalya’s Address to Duryodhana
तथा परेषामृषिसत्तमानां श्रुत्वा गिर: पूजयतां सदा त्वाम् । न संनतिं प्रैमि सुयोधनस्य नत्वां जानाम्याधिरथेर्भयार्तम्,“इसी प्रकार दूसरे महर्षि भी सदा तुम्हारी प्रशंसा करते हुए ऐसी ही बातें कहा करते थे। उनकी बातें सुनकर ही मैं दुर्योधनके सामने कभी नतमस्तक न हो सका; पंरतु मैं यह नहीं जानता था कि तुम अधिरथपुत्र कर्णके भयसे पीड़ित हो जाओगे
tathā pareṣām ṛṣisattamānāṁ śrutvā giraḥ pūjayatāṁ sadā tvām | na saṁnatiṁ praimi suyodhanasya na tvāṁ jānāmy ādhirather bhayārtam ||
Demikian pula para resi terkemuka lainnya senantiasa mengucapkan kata-kata pujian tentang dirimu. Mendengar ujaran itu, aku tak pernah sanggup menunduk kepada Suyodhana (Duryodhana). Namun aku tidak mengetahui bahwa engkau kelak akan dilanda ketakutan kepada Karṇa, putra Adhiratha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public praise by the wise can shape moral judgment: Sañjaya says the sages’ constant commendation of the addressed person made him unwilling to submit to Duryodhana, yet he recognizes that even the praised figure can later be overtaken by fear—highlighting the tension between reputation, inner steadiness, and the pressures of war.
Sañjaya reports that many sages used to praise the person he is addressing; hearing this, he never felt inclined to bow to Duryodhana. He then adds a pointed observation: he had not anticipated that this person would become fearful of Karṇa, identified as Adhiratha’s son.