Shloka 78
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
कर्ण! वहाँ कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनने ही रणभूमिमें चित्रसेन आदि गन्धर्वोकोी मार-पीटकर उनपर विजय पायी थी और स्त्रियोंसहित दुर्योधनको उनकी कैदसे छुड़ाया था ।।
Karṇa! tatra Kuntīkumāra Arjuna eva raṇabhūmau Citrāsena-ādi-gandharvān jitvā tān parājitya strī-sahitaṃ Duryodhanaṃ teṣāṃ bandhanāt mocitavān. Punaḥ prabhāvaḥ Pārthasya paurāṇaḥ Keśavasya ca kathitaḥ Karṇa Rāmeṇa sabhāyāṃ rāja-saṃsadi; Karṇa! punaḥ tava guruḥ Paraśurāmaḥ api tadā rāja-sabhāyāṃ Arjunasya Śrī-Kṛṣṇasya ca purātana-prabhāvaṃ varṇitavān.
“Wahai Karṇa, di medan itu Arjuna, putera Kuntī, telah menewaskan dan menundukkan para Gandharva yang dipimpin Chitrasena, lalu menyelamatkan Duryodhana—bersama para wanita—daripada tawanan mereka. Dan sekali lagi, wahai Karṇa, dalam balairung diraja gurumu Rama (Paraśurāma) telah menceritakan kemasyhuran dan keperkasaan purba Pārtha (Arjuna) serta Keśava (Krishna).”
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that true prowess is recognized even by rivals and authorities: Arjuna’s strength and Krishna’s enduring greatness are publicly affirmed, reminding Karna that fame grounded in demonstrated deeds and righteous protection (rescuing captives) carries moral weight in royal and martial ethics.
A speaker addresses Karna, recalling an earlier episode where Arjuna defeated Chitrasena and the Gandharvas and freed Duryodhana (with the women) from captivity. It adds that Parashurama, Karna’s own teacher, had also described in the royal court the ancient, renowned power of Arjuna and Krishna.