Shloka 13

Devanagari script

कर्ण उवाच सर्व एव महात्मान इमे पुरुषसत्तमा: । सेनापतित्वमर्हन्ति नात्र कार्या विचारणा,कर्णने कहा--राजन्‌! ये सभी महामनस्वी पुरुष-प्रवर नरेश सेनापति होनेके योग्य हैं। इस विषयमें कोई अन्यथा विचार करनेकी आवश्यकता नहीं है

Transliteration

karṇa uvāca sarva eva mahātmāna ime puruṣasattamāḥ | senāpatitvam arhanti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā ||

Translation

Karna said: “O King, all these are great-souled men, the best among persons. Each is worthy to hold the command of the army; there is no need for further deliberation on this matter.”

Word by Word

कर्णःKarna

उवाचsaid

सर्वेall

एवindeed/just

महात्मानःgreat-souled ones

इमेthese

पुरुषसत्तमाःbest of men

सेनापतित्वम्the office of commander-in-chief

अर्हन्तिdeserve/are worthy of

नnot

अत्रhere/in this matter

कार्याto be done/necessary

विचारणाdeliberation/consideration

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karṇa

the King (rājan; addressed person)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Karna emphasizes recognizing merit and capability in leadership: when many eminent warriors are equally qualified, excessive debate can be unnecessary, and timely decision-making becomes part of responsible counsel in a war context.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Drona Parva, Karna addresses the king and comments on the question of appointing an army commander, asserting that the assembled foremost warriors are all fit for the post and that no further deliberation is needed.