Shloka 23
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
कुन्त्या: पुत्रस्य सदृशं नेदं पाण्डवनन्दन । तेन मामभित: स्थित्वा शरवर्षैरवाकिर,पाण्डवनन्दन! तुम्हारा यह कार्य कुन्तीके पुत्रके योग्य नहीं है। अतः मेरे सम्मुख रहकर मुझपर बाणोंकी वर्षा करो
kuntyāḥ putrasya sadṛśaṃ nedaṃ pāṇḍavanandana | tena mām abhitaḥ sthitvā śaravarṣair avākira ||
Karna said: “O joy of the Pāṇḍus, this is not conduct befitting a son of Kuntī. Therefore, stand facing me at close quarters and shower me with volleys of arrows.” In the heat of battle, Karna rebukes his opponent for acting in a way he deems unworthy of noble lineage, urging a direct, courageous engagement consistent with a warrior’s code.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-ethics: a warrior should fight openly and directly, in a manner consistent with honor and lineage. Karna frames battlefield conduct as a moral test—courage and straightforward engagement are presented as ‘befitting’ a noble-born fighter.
During the Drona Parva battle, Karna addresses a Pāṇḍava opponent, criticizing his current tactic as unworthy of Kuntī’s son and demanding that he stand before Karna and attack him with volleys of arrows—an explicit challenge to fight face-to-face.