Shloka 72
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
नाराचान् गार्ध्रपत्रांक्ष शकटानि वहन्तु ते । अनुयास्याम कर्ण त्वां वयं सर्वे च पार्थिवा:,कई छकड़े तुम्हारे पास गीधकी पाँखोंसे युक्त नाराच पहुँचाया करेंगे। कर्ण! हमलोग तथा समस्त भूपालगण तुम्हारे पीछे-पीछे चलेंगे
nārācān gārdhrapatrākṣa śakaṭāni vahantu te | anuyāsyāma karṇa tvāṁ vayaṁ sarve ca pārthivāḥ ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Biarlah pedati membawa kepadamu anak panah nārāca, bertangkai bulu burung hering. Wahai Karṇa, kami sendiri—bersama semua raja—akan mara di belakangmu.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare is sustained not only by individual heroism but by organized support—supplies, coordination, and public allegiance. Ethically, it shows the binding force of political loyalty: Duryodhana reinforces Karṇa’s position by committing resources and the collective presence of allied kings, making leadership a shared responsibility of the coalition.
Duryodhana addresses Karṇa, assuring him that carts will continuously deliver specialized arrows (fletched with vulture-feathers) and that Duryodhana along with all the allied rulers will follow behind Karṇa as he advances—an explicit declaration that Karṇa will lead and the rest will support and accompany him in the battle formation.