Shloka 231
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय २५: संजयदूतवाक्यम्
Sañjaya’s Envoy-Speech on Peace
यत् तत् कर्णो मन्यते पारणीयं युद्धे गृहीतायुधमर्जुनं वै । आसंभश्न युद्धानि पुरा महान्ति कथं कर्णो नाभवद् द्वीप एषाम्
yat tat karṇo manyate pāraṇīyaṃ yuddhe gṛhītāyudham arjunaṃ vai | āsaṃbhaśn yuddhāni purā mahānti kathaṃ karṇo nābhavad dvīpa eṣām |
サンジャヤは言った。「アルジュナが武器を執り、備え万全で立つその戦場において、カルナが彼を討ち伏せ得ると考えるのなら、なぜ昔、大戦が荒れ狂い世界が揺らいだ折に、カルナはその危難のただ中で“島”――救いの拠り所――とはならなかったのか。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse tests martial claims against past performance: true capability and dharmic worth are shown by consistent action in real crises, not by confident assertions made in anticipation of battle.
Sañjaya questions Karṇa’s confidence about defeating an armed Arjuna, pointing out that in earlier great conflicts Karṇa did not emerge as the decisive protector—likened to an ‘island’ of refuge—thereby casting doubt on his present claim.