Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
सर्वेषां चैव सैन्यानां कर्णमेवागमन्मन: । सूतपुत्रं महेष्वासं बन्धुमात्ययिकेष्विव
sarveṣāṃ caiva sainyānāṃ karṇam evāgaman manaḥ | sūtaputraṃ maheṣvāsaṃ bandhum ātyayikeṣv iva ||
എല്ലാ സൈന്യങ്ങളുടെയും മനസ്സ് കർണ്ണനിലേക്കു മാത്രമേ തിരിഞ്ഞുള്ളൂ—ആ സൂതപുത്രനായ മഹേഷ്വാസനിലേക്കു—ഘോരാപത്തിൽ മനസ്സ് വിശ്വസ്ത ബന്ധുവിലേക്കു പോകുന്നതുപോലെ.
संजय उवाच
In crisis, communities often concentrate their confidence on a single capable protector; the verse highlights the psychological and ethical weight placed on a champion in war, where hope and responsibility intensify under danger.
Sañjaya reports that all the forces fixed their attention on Karṇa, viewing him as the decisive support—like a relative relied upon in an emergency—implying that the battle’s outcome is expected to hinge on his prowess.