Shloka 13
शोभनं शोभनं कर्ण सनाथ: कुरुपुड्गभव: । त्वया नाथेन राधेय वचसा यदि सिध्यति,“कर्ण! बहुत अच्छा, बहुत अच्छा! राधापुत्र! यदि बात बनानेसे ही कार्य सिद्ध हो जाय, तब तो तुम-जैसे सहायकको पाकर कुरुराज दुर्योधन सनाथ हो गये
śobhanaṃ śobhanaṃ karṇa sanāthaḥ kurupuṅgavaḥ | tvayā nāthena rāḍheya vacasā yadi sidhyati ||
Sañjaya said: “Excellent—excellent, O Karṇa! With you as his protector, the bull among the Kurus (Duryodhana) is indeed well-supported. If a task could be accomplished merely by words and clever talk, then having a helper like you would make him truly secure.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts mere eloquence with effective action: if success came only from words, then Karṇa’s support would be enough to secure Duryodhana. Implicitly, it questions overconfidence in rhetoric and highlights the ethical demand for deeds aligned with dharma rather than boastful assurances.
Sañjaya comments on Karṇa’s role as Duryodhana’s chief supporter during the war. His praise (“excellent, excellent”) carries a pointed edge: he suggests that if outcomes depended only on persuasive speech, Duryodhana would be safe with Karṇa—implying that the grim realities of battle and fate cannot be solved by talk alone.