Shloka 149
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
स तु सूतकुले वीरो ववृधे राजसत्तम | कर्ण नरवरश्रेष्ठ सर्वशस्त्रभूृतां वरम्,महाराज! वह वीर सूतकुलमें पाला-पोसा जाकर बड़ा हुआ था। नरश्रेष्ठ कर्ण सम्पूर्ण शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ था
sa tu sūtakule vīro vavṛdhe rājasattama | karṇa naravaraśreṣṭhaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam, mahārāja |
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ó melhor dos reis! Esse heroico Karṇa foi criado e chegou à maturidade na família de um sūta (auriga e bardo). Entre todos os que portavam armas, Karṇa—o mais eminente entre os homens—era tido como o melhor.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between social identity (being raised in a sūta household) and intrinsic merit (Karna’s unsurpassed martial prowess). It invites reflection on dharma: how society judges worth by birth, while true excellence and virtue may manifest beyond inherited status.
Vaiśampāyana describes Karna’s upbringing: though reared in a sūta family, he grows into a renowned hero, celebrated as the foremost among weapon-bearing warriors. This sets the stage for later conflicts where his social designation and his capabilities collide in public and political life.