Shloka 28
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
गायन्ति चाप्यबद्धानि प्रवर्तन्ते च कामतः । कामप्रलापिनो<चन्योन्यं तेषु धर्म: कथं भवेत्
gāyanti cāpy abaddhāni pravartante ca kāmataḥ | kāmapralāpino 'nyonyaṃ teṣu dharmaḥ kathaṃ bhavet ||
Mereka menyanyikan lagu-lagu yang tidak beraturan dan bertindak semata-mata menurut kehendak nafsu. Apabila manusia saling berbicara dalam celoteh hawa nafsu, bagaimana mungkin dharma dapat lahir dalam kalangan mereka?
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
When desire governs speech and behavior—producing incoherent, passion-driven talk—dharma (right order and ethical conduct) cannot be established; self-restraint is presented as a prerequisite for dharma.
Karna is speaking critically about people whose actions and words are driven by kāma (passion), arguing that such a state of mind undermines the possibility of dharma among them.