Shloka 39
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
सहितान् हि कुरून् सर्वानभियातो धनंजय: । प्रमथ्य चाच्छिनद् वास: किमयं प्रोषितस्तदा,“जब धनंजयने अकेले ही समस्त कौरवोंपर आक्रमण किया और सबको मूर्च्छित करके उनके वस्त्र छीन लिये थे, उस समय यह कर्ण क्या कहीं परदेश चला गया था?
sahitān hi kurūn sarvān abhiyāto dhanañjayaḥ | pramathya cācchinad vāsaḥ kim ayaṃ proṣitas tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Ketika Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) mara menyerang seluruh kaum Kuru seorang diri, menundukkan mereka, dan bahkan merampas pakaian mereka, adakah Karṇa ini ketika itu berada di negeri asing entah di mana?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Valor and reputation in a dharma-based warrior culture depend on showing up and bearing responsibility in decisive moments; absence during a crisis undermines later claims of heroism.
The speaker recalls an earlier episode where Arjuna single-handedly confronted the assembled Kurus, subdued them, and took their garments; he then pointedly asks whether Karṇa was away at that time, implying Karṇa did not face Arjuna then.