Shloka 13
वैशम्पायन उवाच यदान्यं न वरं वव्रे भगवान् पाकशासन: । ततः प्रहस्य कर्णस्तं पुनरित्यब्रवीद् वच:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! इतना अनुनय-विनय करनेपर भी जब पाकशासन भगवान् इन्द्रने दूसरा कोई वर नहीं माँगा, तब कर्णने हँसकर पुनः इस प्रकार कहा--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yadānyaṃ na varaṃ vavre bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | tataḥ prahasya karṇas taṃ punar ity abravīd vacaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When the blessed Pākaśāsana (Indra), despite further entreaty, did not choose any other boon, then Karṇa, smiling, addressed him again with these words. The moment underscores Karṇa’s unwavering resolve to keep his pledged gift, even when pressed by a powerful deity to retract or modify it.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness in one’s pledged generosity: even when a powerful figure seeks an alternative outcome, Karṇa’s composure and resolve suggest that ethical commitment (especially to a vow of giving) should not be easily bent by pressure, status, or fear.
Indra (Pākaśāsana), after being urged to ask for some other boon, does not request an alternative. Seeing this, Karṇa smiles and speaks again—setting up the next lines where Karṇa continues the exchange and clarifies his stance.