Shloka 403
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
घस्मरा नष्टशौचाश्ष प्राय इत्यनुशुश्रुम । मद्रदेशकी स्त्रियाँ प्राय: गोरी, लंबे कदवाली, निर्लज्ज, कम्बलसे शरीरको ढकनेवाली, बहुत खानेवाली और अत्यन्त अपवित्र होती हैं, ऐसा हमने सुन रखा है
ghasmarā naṣṭaśaucāś ca prāya ity anuśuśruma | madradeśakī striyaḥ prāyaḥ gorīḥ dīrghakadavatyāḥ nirlajjāḥ kambalena śarīraṃ ācchādayantyaḥ bahvāśinyas tathā atyantaṃ apavitrā bhavantīti—iti vayaṃ śrutavantaḥ |
Karna berkata: “Kami telah sering mendengar bahawa wanita di negeri Madra, pada umumnya, kuat makan dan tidak memiliki kesucian—berkulit cerah, bertubuh tinggi, tidak tahu malu, menutup tubuh dengan selimut, makan berlebihan, dan amat kotor.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage illustrates how, in wartime polemics, speakers may resort to hearsay and regional stereotyping to shame an opponent. Ethically, it serves as a negative example: attacking groups by birth or locality (rather than judging individual conduct) is a misuse of speech and a deviation from dharmic restraint.
Karna is speaking and employs a disparaging characterization of the women of Madra, presented as something ‘commonly heard’ (prāya, anuśuśruma). The statement functions as an insult meant to degrade someone associated with Madra by invoking a hostile stereotype.