Shloka 1
कर्ण–कृष्णसंवादः (Karṇa–Kṛṣṇa-saṃvādaḥ) — Karṇa’s Statement on Lineage, Loyalty, and the ‘Śastra-yajña’ Metaphor
>> रभ चत्वारिशर्दाधिकशततमोब् ध्याय: भगवान् श्रीकृष्णका कर्णको पाण्डवपक्षमें आ जानेके लिये समझाना धृतराष्ट उवाच राजपुत्रै: परिवृतस्तथा भृत्यैश्व संजय । उपारोप्य रथे कर्ण निर्यातो मधुसूदन:
Dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | rājaputraiḥ parivṛtas tathā bhṛtyaiś ca sañjaya | upāropya rathe Karṇaṃ niryāto Madhusūdanaḥ ||
ਧ੍ਰਿਤਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਸੰਜਯ, ਰਾਜਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸੇਵਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰਿਆ ਮਧੁਸੂਦਨ (ਸ਼੍ਰੀਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ) ਕਰਨ ਨੂੰ ਰਥ ਉੱਤੇ ਬਿਠਾ ਕੇ ਰਵਾਨਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa’s ethical diplomacy: before war becomes inevitable, he actively seeks reconciliation and a dharmic alignment of key actors. The act of personally taking Karṇa along underscores that counsel, persuasion, and moral responsibility precede violence.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya to report events: Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana), accompanied by royal princes and attendants, seats Karṇa on a chariot and departs—setting the scene for Kṛṣṇa’s attempt to win Karṇa over to the Pāṇḍava side.