Shloka 40
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
गन्धर्वर्घोषयात्रायां द्वियते यत् सुतस्तव । क्व तदा सूतपुत्रो5भूद् य इदानीं वृषायते
gandharvarghoṣayātrāyāṃ dviyate yat sutastava | kva tadā sūtaputro ’bhūd ya idānīṃ vṛṣāyate ||
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದರು— ಗಂಧರ್ವರ ಘೋಷಯಾತ್ರೆಯ ವೇಳೆ ಅವರು ನಿನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರನನ್ನು ಬಂಧಿಸಿ ಕೈದಿಯಾಗಿ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಈಗ ಎಮ್ಮೆಯಂತೆ ಗರ್ಜಿಸುವ ಈ ಸೂತಪುತ್ರನು ಆಗ ಎಲ್ಲಿದ್ದನು?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes empty bravado: true honor is measured by timely action and responsibility, not loud self-assertion after the fact. It also underscores ethical accountability—one who claims strength and loyalty should have stood firm when protection was actually needed.
A speaker recalls the earlier ‘Ghoṣa-yātrā’ incident where Duryodhana was seized by Gandharvas and taunts Karṇa (called ‘sūtaputra’) for not being effective then, even though he now speaks and postures aggressively like a bull.