Adhyāya 5 (Śānti-parva): Nārada’s account of Karṇa—Jarāsandha encounter and the causal grounds of Karṇa’s fall
प्रीत्या ददौ स कर्णाय मालिनीं नगरीमथ । अड्भेषु नरशार्टूल स राजा5डसीत् सपत्नजित्
prītyā dadau sa karṇāya mālinīṃ nagarīm atha | aḍbheṣu naraśārdūla sa rājāsīt sapatnajit ||
ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ସ୍ନେହବଶତଃ ସେ ତେବେ କର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ‘ମାଲିନୀ’ ନାମକ ନଗରୀ ଦାନ କଲେ। ହେ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ସେହି ରାଜ୍ୟରେ କର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରାଜା ହେଲେ—ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱୀଜୟୀ।
नारद उवाच
Affectionate patronage and the granting of territory can establish political standing; yet true kingship is marked by the capacity to secure the realm and overcome rival claimants (sapatnajit).
Nārada narrates that a ruler, moved by affection, grants Karṇa the city called Mālinī, after which Karṇa attains the status of a king and is described as one who defeats his rivals.