Shloka 41
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय १) — भीष्मनिधनानन्तरं धृतराष्ट्रस्य शोकः, सेनायाः स्थितिः, कर्णस्मरणं च
Droṇa Parva, Chapter 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief after Bhīṣma’s fall and the army’s reorientation toward Karṇa
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्दशाहानि महायशा: । नायुध्यत ततः कर्ण: पुत्रस्य तव सम्मते,ऐसा कहकर महाबाहु महायशस्वी कर्ण आपके पुत्रकी सम्मति ले दस दिनोंतक युद्धमें सम्मिलित नहीं हुआ
evam uktvā mahābāhur daśāhāni mahāyaśāḥ | nāyudhyata tataḥ karṇaḥ putrasya tava sammataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed, greatly renowned Karṇa—acting with the approval of your son—did not take part in the fighting for ten days thereafter. The verse underscores how personal resolve and allegiance to a leader’s consent can shape conduct even amid a war where duty to fight is otherwise expected.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a context where martial duty is paramount, action can be restrained by vows, personal principles, and the consent of one’s leader; the verse highlights the ethical weight of allegiance and deliberate non-participation rather than impulsive violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that after making a prior statement, Karṇa—described as mighty and famous—refrained from fighting for ten days, doing so with the approval of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana).