Shloka 14
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
तमन्वगाद् रथी खड््गी बद्धगोधाडुलित्रवान् | कर्ण: शस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठ: पृष्ठत: पुरुषर्षभ,पुरुषोतम! उस समय श्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कर्ण रथपर आरूढ़ हो हाथमें दस्ताने बाँधे और तलवार लिये दुर्योधनके पीछे-पीछे चला
tam anvagād rathī khaḍgī baddha-godhāṅgulitravān | karṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ puruṣarṣabha puruṣottama ||
नारद म्हणाले—त्यानंतर शस्त्रधार्यांमध्ये श्रेष्ठ, पुरुषसिंह कर्ण रथावर आरूढ झाला. हातात तलवार घेऊन, भुजबंध व अंगुलित्र बांधून, तो दुर्योधनाच्या पाठीमागे निघाला.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral complexity of loyalty: Karṇa’s exemplary martial discipline and steadfast following of his ally show commitment and readiness, yet invite reflection on whether devotion to a person should be subordinated to devotion to dharma.
Nārada narrates that Karṇa, fully armed and mounted on his chariot, proceeds behind Duryodhana, indicating that he is accompanying and supporting him in a tense, action-oriented moment.