Shloka 23
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception
दृष्टवा तु तं द्रौपदी वाक्यमुच्चै- जगाद नाहं वरयामि सूतम् । सामर्षहासं प्रसमीक्ष्य सूर्य तत्याज कर्ण: स्फुरितं धनुस्तत्,कर्णको देखकर द्रौपदीने उच्च स्वरसे यह बात कही--“मैं सूत जातिके पुरुषका वरण नहीं करूँगी।” यह सुनकर कर्णने अमर्षयुक्त हँसीके साथ भगवान् सूर्यकी ओर देखा और उस प्रकाशमान धनुषको डाल दिया
dṛṣṭvā tu taṃ draupadī vākyam uccair jagāda nāhaṃ varayāmi sūtam | sāmarṣahāsaṃ prasmīkṣya sūryaṃ tatyāja karṇaḥ sphuritaṃ dhanus tat ||
Ao vê-lo, Draupadī falou em voz alta: “Não escolherei um homem da classe sūta.” Ao ouvir isso, Karṇa—sorrindo com o orgulho ferido—lançou um olhar ao Sol e atirou de lado aquele arco refulgente.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of judging worth by birth-status rather than ability and character. Publicly voiced exclusion wounds honor and can seed lasting resentment, showing how adharma can arise through speech that humiliates.
At Draupadī’s svayaṃvara, she declares she will not choose a sūta. Karṇa, stung, looks toward Sūrya and abandons the radiant bow, withdrawing from the contest.