Shloka 7
जयद्रथ-निग्रहः — Jayadratha Restrained, Shamed, and Released
एवमुक्तस्तत: कर्णो राजानमिदमत्रवीत् । तवाद्य पृथिवीपाला वश्या: सर्वे नृपोत्तम,दुर्योधनकी यह बात सुनकर कर्णने उससे यह कहा--“नृपश्रेष्ठ इस समय भूपाल तुम्हारे वशमें हैं। कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ! उत्तम ब्राह्मणोंको बुलाओ और विधिपूर्वक यज्ञकी सामग्रियों तथा उपकरणोंको जुटाओ
evam uktas tataḥ karṇo rājānam idam atravīt | tavādya pṛthivīpālā vaśyāḥ sarve nṛpottama ||
Thus addressed, Karṇa then spoke these words to the king: “Today, O best of kings, all the rulers of the earth are under your control.” In context, Karṇa’s counsel reinforces Duryodhana’s sense of political dominance and urges him toward a grand, rule-sanctioning rite—an ethically charged moment where power seeks validation through Vedic ceremony, even as the larger narrative moves toward conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political power seeks affirmation: a ruler’s dominance is praised as complete, and the implied next step is to consolidate that dominance through sanctioned ritual. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether external rites can truly legitimize power when the broader intentions are driven by rivalry and impending violence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that, after being addressed, Karṇa responds to the king (Duryodhana) by declaring that all other rulers are presently under his sway—an encouraging, confidence-building statement that sets up further counsel about royal action and ceremonial display.