Shloka 13

दुर्योधन–द्रोणसंवादः

Arjuna-vīrya-prasaṃśā and renewed battle formation

Devanagari script

शोभनं शोभनं कर्ण सनाथ: कुरुपुड्गभव: । त्वया नाथेन राधेय वचसा यदि सिध्यति,“कर्ण! बहुत अच्छा, बहुत अच्छा! राधापुत्र! यदि बात बनानेसे ही कार्य सिद्ध हो जाय, तब तो तुम-जैसे सहायकको पाकर कुरुराज दुर्योधन सनाथ हो गये

Transliteration

śobhanaṃ śobhanaṃ karṇa sanāthaḥ kurupuṅgavaḥ | tvayā nāthena rāḍheya vacasā yadi sidhyati ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「見事だ—見事だ、カルナよ！　汝が守護者として在るゆえ、クル族の雄牛（ドゥルヨーダナ）はまことに頼みを得ている。もし事が言葉と巧みな弁舌だけで成し遂げられるのなら、汝のような助け手を得た彼は真に安泰であろう。」

Word by Word

शोभनम्excellent; well done

शोभनम्excellent; well done (repeated for emphasis)

कर्णO Karna

सनाथःhaving a protector/ally; supported

कुरुपुङ्गवःthe bull among the Kurus (best of the Kurus)

त्वयाby you

नाथेनas (his) protector/lord

राधेयO Radheya (son of Radha)

वचसाby words; by speech

यदिif

सिध्यतिis accomplished; succeeds

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karna

Rādhā (as Karṇa’s foster-mother, via epithet Rāḍheya)

Duryodhana (implied by kurupuṅgavaḥ in context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts mere eloquence with effective action: if success came only from words, then Karṇa’s support would be enough to secure Duryodhana. Implicitly, it questions overconfidence in rhetoric and highlights the ethical demand for deeds aligned with dharma rather than boastful assurances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya comments on Karṇa’s role as Duryodhana’s chief supporter during the war. His praise (“excellent, excellent”) carries a pointed edge: he suggests that if outcomes depended only on persuasive speech, Duryodhana would be safe with Karṇa—implying that the grim realities of battle and fate cannot be solved by talk alone.