Shloka 6

कर्णस्य मन्त्रः — Duryodhana-प्रति नीति-विचारः

Karna’s Counsel on Strategy toward the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

इच्छया ब्रूहि तत्‌ सत्यं सत्यं राजसु शोभते । इष्टापूर्तेन च तथा वक्तव्यमनृतं न तु,आप स्वेच्छासे ही सच्ची बात बतायें, राजाओंमें इष्ट- और पूर्तकी अपेक्षा सत्यकी ही अधिक महिमा है; अतः असत्य नहीं बोलना चाहिये

Transliteration

icchayā brūhi tat satyaṃ satyaṃ rājasu śobhate | iṣṭāpūrtena ca tathā vaktavyam anṛtaṃ na tu ||

Translation

Speak the truth of it willingly. Truth befits kings and is their true ornament. Even when acts of sacrifice and public benefaction are praised, one should still speak what is true—never what is false.

Word by Word

इच्छयाwillingly / by (your) wish

ब्रूहिspeak, tell

तत्that

सत्यम्truth

सत्यम्truth (indeed)

राजसुamong kings

शोभतेshines, is splendid

इष्टापूर्तेनby (rites of) iṣṭa and pūrta (sacrifices and charitable works)

चand

तथाthus, likewise

वक्तव्यम्should be spoken

अनृतम्falsehood, untruth

नnot

तुbut, however

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthful speech is presented as a primary royal virtue: truth is what truly adorns a king, and even the merit of sacrifices (iṣṭa) and public benefactions (pūrta) does not justify speaking falsehood.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, frames an ethical instruction within the dialogue: he urges that the matter be stated voluntarily and truthfully, emphasizing that rulers should uphold truth and avoid untruth.