Shloka 7
Arjuna’s Approach, Drona’s Recognition, and the Turning of the Cattle (अर्जुनागमनम्, द्रोणवाक्यम्, गोगमनिवृत्तिः)
पात्रीभूतश्व॒ कौन्तेयो ब्राह्मणो गुणवानिव । शरीौघान् प्रतिगृह्नातु मया मुक्तानू सहस्रश:,कुन्तीनन्दन धनंजय गुणवान् ब्राह्मणकी भाँति मेरे लिये एक सुपात्र व्यक्ति है। अतः आज वह मेरे छोड़े हुए सहस्रों बाणसमुदायोंका दान स्वीकार करे
pātrībhūtaś ca kaunteyo brāhmaṇo guṇavān iva | śaraughān pratigṛhṇātu mayā muktān sahasraśaḥ ||
Karna berkata: “Putera Kunti ini, bagiku, ialah penerima yang layak—laksana seorang Brahmana yang berbudi. Biarlah dia menerima, sebagai suatu derma, ribuan hujan anak panah yang telah kulepaskan.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical irony: the vocabulary of dāna (gift-giving) and pātratā (worthiness) is applied to a violent act. It reveals how pride and rivalry can distort moral language, turning ‘generosity’ into a rhetorical cover for aggression.
Karna addresses Arjuna (Kaunteya) and, boasting of his prowess, says Arjuna is a ‘fit recipient’ like a virtuous Brahmin; therefore Arjuna should ‘accept’ the thousands of arrows Karna has shot—i.e., endure Karna’s fierce attack.