Shloka 50
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय १) — भीष्मनिधनानन्तरं धृतराष्ट्रस्य शोकः, सेनायाः स्थितिः, कर्णस्मरणं च
Droṇa Parva, Chapter 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief after Bhīṣma’s fall and the army’s reorientation toward Karṇa
धृतराष्ट्रने कहा--संजय! जब तुमलोगोंका मन विकर्तनपुत्र कर्णकी ओर गया, तब क्या तुमने शरीर निछावर करनेवाले सूतपुत्र राधानन्दन कर्णको वहाँ देखा? ।। अपि तन्न मृषाकार्षीत् कच्चित् सत्यपराक्रम: । सम्भ्रान्तानां तदारततानां त्रस्तानां त्राणमिच्छताम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca—Sañjaya! yadā yuṣmākaṁ manaḥ Vikatana-putra Karṇasya prati gataṁ, tadā kiṁ yūyaṁ tatra śarīra-nikṣepaṇa-śīlaṁ sūta-putraṁ Rādhā-nandanaṁ Karṇaṁ dadarśitha? api tan na mṛṣākārṣīt kaccit satya-parākramaḥ; sambhrāntānāṁ tadā ratatānāṁ trastānāṁ trāṇam icchatām.
ドリタラーシュトラは言った。「サンジャヤよ、お前たちの注意がヴィカルタナの子カルナへと向かったとき、そこにカルナ――ラーダーの子、御者の子、身をも投げ出す覚悟の者――を見たのか。真の武勇を証されたその男が、偽りの振る舞いをしたはずがあるまい。あのとき、うろたえ、追い詰められ、恐れおののき、救いを求める者たちのために、彼はその拠り所となろうとしたのか。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a ruler’s dependence on truthful reporting and the ethical expectation that genuine valor expresses itself as protection of the frightened and distressed—courage joined with responsibility rather than mere aggression.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra anxiously questions Sañjaya about Karṇa’s presence and conduct on the battlefield, hoping that Karṇa—renowned for proven prowess and self-sacrificing resolve—did not act falsely and instead sought to protect those who were confused, afflicted, and terrified.