Shloka 55
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
ते शच्यर्थ महेन्द्रेण याचित: स परंतप: । अमोघया महाराज शकक््त्या परमभीमया,परंतु देवराज इन्द्रने शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले वीरवर कर्णसे शचीके लिये वे दोनों कुण्डल माँग लिये। महाराज! कर्णने बदलेमें अत्यन्त भयंकर एवं अमोघ शक्ति लेकर वे कुण्डल दिये थे इति श्रीमहाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि यानसंधिपर्वणि दुर्योधनवाक्ये पञ्चपज्चाशत्तमो<ध्याय:
te śacy-arthaṃ mahendreṇa yācitaḥ sa parantapaḥ | amoghayā mahārāja śaktyā paramabhīmayā ||
Duryodhana disse: “Por causa de Śacī, Mahendra (Indra) suplicou àquele herói que abrasa os inimigos, Karṇa, o seu par de brincos. Ó rei, Karṇa entregou-os em troca de uma arma-lança infalível, terrível e pavorosa.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between generosity and strategic consequence: Karna’s famed readiness to give (even when asked by a god) becomes entangled with the realities of war, where gifts and boons can decisively shape fate.
Indra, seeking protection for his son Arjuna, approaches Karna and asks for Karna’s earrings (and, by broader context, his natural armor). Karna gives them, but receives in return an unfailing, terrifying spear-weapon (śakti), which later becomes pivotal in the war.