Shloka 13
Adhyāya 203 — Tilottamā-sṛṣṭiḥ
Creation and Commissioning of Tilottamā
कर्ण उवाच योजितावर्थमानाभ्यां सर्वकार्येष्वनन्तरौ । न मन्त्रयेतां त्वच्छेय: किमद्भुततरं तत:,कर्ण बोला--महाराज! भीष्मजी और द्रोणाचार्यकों आपकी ओरसे सदा धन और सम्मान प्राप्त होता रहता है। इन्हें आप अपना अन्तरंग सुहृद् समझकर सभी कार्योंमें इनकी सलाह लेते हैं। फिर भी यदि ये आपके भलेकी सलाह न दें तो इससे बढ़कर आश्चर्यकी बात और क्या हो सकती है?
karṇa uvāca | yojitāv arthamānābhyāṃ sarvakāryeṣv anantarau | na mantrayetāṃ tvacchreyaḥ kim adbhutataram tataḥ ||
Karna disse: “Ó rei, Bhishma e Drona são continuamente sustentados por tua riqueza e tuas honras, e permanecem junto de ti em toda empreitada. Se, apesar de serem tratados como íntimos bem-querentes, não te aconselham para o teu verdadeiro bem—que coisa poderia ser mais espantosa do que essa?”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should seek and receive śreyas (true welfare) from trusted elders and advisers; if those who are closest—benefiting from the king’s patronage—fail to give honest, beneficial counsel, it signals a serious ethical and political breakdown in governance.
Karna addresses the king (contextually Duryodhana), pointing out that Bhishma and Drona are continually honored and supported by him and are involved in all his affairs; therefore, if they do not advise him for his good, it is a startling and troubling situation.