Shloka 161
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
सर्वथा न हायं शल्य कर्ण: सूतकुलोद्धव: । सकुण्डलं सकवचं दीर्घबाहुं महारथम्
sarvathā na hāyaṃ śalya karṇaḥ sūtakulodbhavaḥ | sakuṇḍalaṃ sakavacaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahāratham ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai Śalya, Karṇa ini sama sekali bukan sekadar lelaki yang lahir daripada kaum Sūta. Berhiaskan kuṇḍala (subang) dan bersarung kavaca (baju zirah), berlengan panjang dan seorang mahāratha—pahlawan kereta perang agung—dia berdiri sebagai wira terkemuka.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between birth-based social labeling and demonstrated excellence: Duryodhana insists that Karṇa should not be diminished as merely “sūta-born,” emphasizing merit, heroic qualities, and martial stature as grounds for honor.
In the Karṇa Parva context, Duryodhana addresses Śalya (Karṇa’s charioteer) to defend and elevate Karṇa’s standing, describing him as a fully equipped, long-armed mahāratha—countering disparagement rooted in Karṇa’s supposed low birth.