Shloka 7
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
क्रियाकाले त्वनुक्रोशमकृत्वा त्वमिमं मम | हीनसंस्कारसमयमद्य मां समचूचुद:
kriyākāle tv anukrośam akṛtvā tvam imaṃ mama | hīna-saṃskāra-samayaṃ adya māṃ samacūcudaḥ ||
「私のために手を打てる時には、あなたは憐れみを示さなかった。だが今日――私が儀礼と相応の鍛錬を受けるべき時はすでに過ぎ去ったというのに――あなたは来て、私をクシャトリヤの法と義務へと駆り立てるのだ。」
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses moral responsibility tied to timing: compassion and corrective action must be offered when they can truly help. Karna critiques belated ethical exhortation—urging him toward kṣatriya duty only after the formative moment (saṃskāra/recognition) has passed—highlighting how delayed justice or recognition can become ethically hollow.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsel, Karna responds to an appeal that invokes his kṣatriya identity and duty. He rejects the appeal as untimely, saying that when he needed support and recognition earlier, it was not given; now, at a late stage, he is being pressed to adopt the warrior code.