Shloka 4
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
संशृण्वतस्तस्य दुर्भाषिणो वै दुरात्मन: सूतपुत्रस्य सूत । यो योद्धुमाशंसति मां सदैव मन्दप्रज्ञ: कालपक्वो5तिमूढ:
saṃśṛṇvatastasya durbhāṣiṇo vai durātmanaḥ sūtaputrasya sūta | yo yoddhum āśaṃsati māṃ sadaiva mandaprajñaḥ kālapakvo'timūḍhaḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai sais, dengarlah ketika aku menyebut tentang lelaki bermulut busuk dan berhati jahat itu—Karna, anak sais—yang sentiasa bermegah mahu bertarung denganku, walaupun akalnya tumpul, ajalnya sudah masak, dan dia benar-benar tersesat. Sampaikan kata-kataku dalam dewan Kaurava kepada Duryodhana, putera Dhritarashtra, supaya dia mendengarnya dengan jelas, bersama para menteri dan semua raja yang telah dipanggil untuk berperang melawan para Pandava.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech and intention in conflict: abusive talk and arrogant boasting are portrayed as signs of delusion and moral decline, while the reference to kāla (Time/death) frames hubris as self-destructive and ultimately answerable to destiny.
Sañjaya reports a message meant for the Kaurava court: Karṇa is characterized as harsh-tongued and boastful about fighting, and the speaker instructs that these words be conveyed to Duryodhana (with ministers and allied kings present) as the war with the Pāṇḍavas approaches.