Shloka 536
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
अपवादतितिक्षाभिस्त्रिभिरेतैर्हि जीवसि । शल्य! एक तो मैं मित्र दुर्योधन और राजा धृतराष्ट्र दोनोंके कार्यकी ओर दृष्टि रखता हूँ, दूसरे अपनी निन्दासे डरता हूँ और तीसरे मैंने क्षमा करनेका वचन दिया है--इन्हीं तीन कारणोंसे तुम अबतक जीवित हो
apavāda-titikṣābhiḥ tribhir etaiḥ hi jīvasi | śalya! ekaḥ tu ahaṃ mitra-duryodhana-rājā dhṛtarāṣṭra ubhayayoḥ kāryaṃ prati dṛṣṭiṃ rakṣāmi, dvitīyaḥ sva-nindayā bhayāmi, tṛtīyaḥ ca mayā kṣamā-karaṇasya vacanaṃ dattam—ebhiḥ trībhir kāraṇaiḥ tvaṃ adyāpi jīvasi |
カルナは言った。「この三つの仕方で非難を耐え忍んでいるがゆえに、おまえはなお生きているのだ、シャリヤよ。第一に、我は友ドゥルヨーダナと王ドリタラーシュトラ、その両者の事に資するものへと目を配っている。第二に、我がみずからの咎ある振る舞いによって招く不名誉を恐れる。第三に、赦すと誓いの言葉を与えた。ゆえにこの三つの理由によって、おまえは今なお生きている。」
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war and provocation, restraint can be grounded in (1) loyalty to a larger duty or political responsibility, (2) fear of moral disgrace, and (3) fidelity to one’s promise—showing that self-control is upheld not only by compassion but also by honor and obligation.
Karna addresses Shalya sharply, implying Shalya has provoked or insulted him. Karna explains why he has not retaliated: he must protect the interests of Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra, he fears the shame of acting blamefully, and he has pledged to forgive—therefore Shalya remains unharmed.