Shloka 13
अथ दुर्योधनस्तत्र भ्रातृभि: सह भारत । कर्ण परिष्वज्य मुदा ततो वचनमत्रवीत्,भारत! तदनन्तर भाइयोंसहित दुर्योधनने वहाँ बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ कर्णको हृदयसे लगाकर कहा
atha duryodhanas tatra bhrātṛbhiḥ saha bhārata | karṇa pariṣvajya mudā tato vacanam abravīt ||
Then Duryodhana, O descendant of Bharata, being there with his brothers, joyfully embraced Karṇa and thereafter spoke these words. The scene underscores Duryodhana’s deliberate cultivation of loyalty through affection and public honor—an ethically charged bond that will later shape choices in the coming conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how bonds of affection and honor can create powerful obligations. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether loyalty formed through personal gratitude should override discernment about right conduct (dharma), especially when such loyalty later supports questionable aims.
Duryodhana, accompanied by his brothers, warmly embraces Karṇa and begins to address him. The gesture signals public acceptance and closeness, strengthening Karṇa’s alignment with the Kauravas at a pivotal moment in the unfolding story.