Shloka 15
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
“तुम जितना सोना ले जाना चाहो उतना मैं प्रसन्नतापूर्वक दे रहा हूँ।” इस प्रकार रुकमीसे मिलकर कर्णने पाण्ड्यदेश तथा श्रीशैलकी ओर प्रस्थान किया ।। स केरलं रणे चैव नील॑ चापि महीपतिम् । वेणुदारिसुतं चैव ये चान्ये नृपसत्तमा:
“tvaṁ jitnā sonā le jānā cāho utnā maiṁ prasannatāpūrvak de rahā hūṁ।” iti rūkmiṇā saha samāgamya karṇaḥ pāṇḍyadeśaṁ śrīśailaṁ ca prati prasthitaḥ॥ sa keraḷaṁ raṇe caiva nīlaṁ cāpi mahīpatim | veṇudārisutaṁ caiva ye cānye nṛpasattamāḥ ||
‘Take as much gold as you wish; I gladly give it.’ Having thus met with Rukmi, Karna set out toward the Pāṇḍya country and toward Śrīśaila. There, in battle, he confronted the king of Kerala, and also King Nīla, and the son of Veṇudāri, along with other foremost rulers. The passage underscores Karna’s public identity as a lavish giver and the way generosity, alliance, and martial ambition intertwine in the politics of kings.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension in kṣatriya life: generosity (dāna) enhances fame and social capital, yet it also operates within power politics and military expansion. Karna’s identity as a munificent giver coexists with his role as a conqueror.
After meeting Rukmi and offering him as much gold as he desires, Karna proceeds on a campaign toward the Pāṇḍya region and Śrīśaila, where he engages in battles against prominent rulers such as the king of Kerala, King Nīla, and the son of Veṇudāri, among others.