Shloka 40
कर्णनिधनवृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् | Reporting Karṇa’s Fall to Yudhiṣṭhira
वृद्धी च मातापितरी बिभर्त्यन्यांश्व॒ संश्रितान् स्वधर्मनिरतो नित्यं सत्यवागनसूयक:
vṛddhī ca mātāpitarī bibharty anyāṁś ca saṁśritān svadharmanirato nityaṁ satyavāg anasūyakaḥ
Ia menanggung para lanjut usia; menafkahi ibu dan ayahnya; dan juga memelihara orang-orang lain yang berlindung kepadanya. Senantiasa teguh pada dharmanya, ia berkata benar dan bebas dari dengki serta kebiasaan mencela.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines righteous character through concrete duties: caring for elderly dependents and one’s parents, protecting those who seek refuge, remaining steadfast in one’s svadharma, speaking truth, and avoiding a censorious or envious attitude.
Vāyudeva is describing the qualities of a dharmic person—someone whose moral worth is shown not by claims but by sustained responsibility, truthful speech, and a non-malicious disposition—framing ethical ideals within the broader wartime setting of the Karṇa Parva.