Shloka 16
कर्णवधोत्तरं शल्य-दुर्योधनसंवादः
Aftermath of Karṇa’s Fall: Śalya’s Address to Duryodhana
तथा परेषामृषिसत्तमानां श्रुत्वा गिर: पूजयतां सदा त्वाम् । न संनतिं प्रैमि सुयोधनस्य नत्वां जानाम्याधिरथेर्भयार्तम्
tathā pareṣām ṛṣisattamānāṁ śrutvā giraḥ pūjayatāṁ sadā tvām | na saṁnatiṁ praimi suyodhanasya na tvāṁ jānāmy ādhirather bhayārtam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Demikian juga, para resi terunggul yang lain sentiasa mengucapkan kata-kata pujian terhadapmu. Mendengar ujaran itu, aku tidak pernah mampu menundukkan kepala di hadapan Suyodhana (Duryodhana). Namun aku tidak tahu bahawa engkau akan dihimpit ketakutan terhadap Karṇa, putera Adhiratha.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public praise by the wise can shape moral judgment: Sañjaya says the sages’ constant commendation of the addressed person made him unwilling to submit to Duryodhana, yet he recognizes that even the praised figure can later be overtaken by fear—highlighting the tension between reputation, inner steadiness, and the pressures of war.
Sañjaya reports that many sages used to praise the person he is addressing; hearing this, he never felt inclined to bow to Duryodhana. He then adds a pointed observation: he had not anticipated that this person would become fearful of Karṇa, identified as Adhiratha’s son.