Shloka 36
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय १) — भीष्मनिधनानन्तरं धृतराष्ट्रस्य शोकः, सेनायाः स्थितिः, कर्णस्मरणं च
Droṇa Parva, Chapter 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief after Bhīṣma’s fall and the army’s reorientation toward Karṇa
रथेषु गण्यमानेषु बलविक्रमशालिषु । संख्यातो<र्धरथ: कर्णो द्विगुण: सन् नरर्षभ:,राजन! बात यह हुई थी कि जब बल और पराक्रमसे सुशोभित रथियोंकी गणना की जा रही थी, उस समय समस्त क्षत्रियोंके देखते-देखते भीष्मजीने महाबाहु नरश्रेष्ठ कर्णको अर्धरथी बता दिया। यद्यपि वह दो रथियोंके समान है
ratheṣu gaṇyamāneṣu balavikramaśāliṣu | saṅkhyāto 'rdharathaḥ karṇo dviguṇaḥ san nararṣabhaḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ରାଜନ୍! ବଳ ଓ ପରାକ୍ରମରେ ଶୋଭିତ ରଥୀମାନଙ୍କର ଗଣନା ହେଉଥିବାବେଳେ, ସମସ୍ତ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଭୀଷ୍ମ ମହାବାହୁ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ କର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ‘ଅର୍ଧରଥୀ’ ବୋଲି ଘୋଷଣା କଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ଦୁଇ ରଥୀଙ୍କ ସମାନ ଥିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public classification of a warrior’s worth can be ethically consequential: honor and status are shaped not only by actual capability but also by authoritative speech. A deliberate underestimation becomes a moral act that can inflame rivalry and influence conduct in war.
As the Kaurava warriors are being enumerated by their chariot-ranks, Karṇa is announced as merely an ‘ardha-ratha’, even though he is effectively of double that measure. Sañjaya reports this as a significant slight occurring openly before the kṣatriyas.