Shloka 11
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
दक्षिणां दिशमास्थाय कर्णो जित्वा महारथान्,दक्षिण दिशामें पहुँचकर कर्णने बड़े-बड़े महारथियोंको जीता। दाक्षिणात्योंमें रुक्मीके साथ कर्णने युद्ध किया। रुक्मीने पहले तो बड़ा भयंकर युद्ध किया, फिर उसने सूतपुत्र कर्णसे कहा
dakṣiṇāṃ diśam āsthāya karṇo jitvā mahārathān | dakṣiṇadeśaṃ prāpya karṇena mahā-rathino jitāḥ | dākṣiṇātyeṣu rukmiṇā saha karṇena yuddham abhavat | rukmī pūrvaṃ ghoraṃ yuddhaṃ cakāra, paścāt sa sūtaputraṃ karṇaṃ uvāca |
Vaiśampāyana said: Turning toward the southern quarter, Karṇa overcame many great chariot-warriors. Having reached the southern region, he subdued renowned fighters there. Among the southern kings he fought with Rukmī. Rukmī at first waged a fierce and dreadful battle; then he addressed Karṇa, the son of a charioteer—hinting at the ethical tension between martial merit and social insult that often accompanies rivalry in war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata: true martial worth is shown by conduct and prowess, yet opponents often resort to status-based insult (such as calling Karṇa 'sūtaputra'). It invites reflection on how honor in war can be upheld or undermined by speech.
Karṇa proceeds toward the south and defeats many eminent chariot-warriors. In the southern region he engages in a fierce battle with King Rukmī, who after fighting intensely begins to address Karṇa—setting up a verbal exchange colored by rivalry and social taunts.