Shloka 3
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
श्रुत॒वानसि कर्णस्य ब्रुवतो वदतां वर । यथा नृपतिसिंहानां मध्ये त्वां वरये स्वयम्,“महाभाग! सत्यव्रत! शत्रुओंका संताप बढ़ानेवाले मद्रराज! रणवीर! शत्रुसैन्यभयंकर! वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ! आपने कर्णकी बात सुनी है। उसीके अनुसार इन राजसिंहोंके बीचमें मैं स्वयं आपका वरण करता हूँ
sañjaya uvāca |
śrutavān asi karṇasya bruvato vadatāṁ vara |
yathā nṛpati-siṁhānāṁ madhye tvāṁ varaye svayam |
mahābhāga satyavrata śatrūṇāṁ santāpa-vardhana madrarāja raṇavīra śatru-sainya-bhayaṅkara vaktṝṇāṁ śreṣṭha | āpaṇe karṇasya vākyam śrutavān asi | tadanusāreṇa eṣāṁ rāja-siṁhānāṁ madhye ahaṁ svayam eva tava varaṇaṁ karomi ||
Sanjaya said: “O best of speakers, you have heard Karna as he spoke. In keeping with his words, here amid these lion-like kings I myself choose you. O greatly fortunate one, steadfast in truth, increaser of the enemies’ anguish—O king of Madra, hero of battle, terror to the hostile host, foremost among orators—having heard Karna’s counsel, I now openly declare my choice of you among these royal champions.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of public choice and allegiance in a royal-warrior assembly: one should choose and endorse leadership openly, grounded in truthfulness (satyavrata) and proven capability, especially when counsel has been duly heard.
Sanjaya reports a scene where, after hearing Karna’s words, a speaker publicly selects and praises the king of Madra amid an assembly of powerful kings, emphasizing his truthfulness, martial prowess, and intimidating presence against enemy forces.