Shloka 16
यदि दास्यामि ते देव कुण्डले कवचं तथा | वध्यतामुपयास्यामि त्वं च शक्रावहास्यताम्,“इन्द्रदेव! यदि मैं आपको अपने दोनों कुण्डल और कवच दे दूँगा तो मैं तो शत्रुओंका वध्य हो जाऊँगा और संसारमें आपकी हँसी होगी। इसलिये (कर्णने सूर्यकी आज्ञाको याद करके कहा--) शक्र! आप कुछ बदला देकर इच्छानुसार मेरे कुण्डल और उत्तम कवच ले जाइये; अन्यथा मैं इन्हें नहीं दे सकता'
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
yadi dāsyāmi te deva kuṇḍale kavacaṃ tathā |
vadhyatām upayāsyāmi tvaṃ ca śakrāvahāsyatām ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó deus, se eu te der meus brincos e também minha armadura, ficarei vulnerável a ser morto; e tu, ó Śakra, te tornarás motivo de escárnio no mundo. Portanto, Śakra—concede-me algo em troca e então toma, como desejares, meus brincos e esta excelente armadura; caso contrário, não posso dá-los.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between generosity and self-preservation: giving away what protects one’s life can be morally admirable, yet it also has consequences for one’s duty in war and for public honor. It frames giving as ideally accompanied by fairness (a return or exchange), especially when the request is strategically motivated.
Indra (as Śakra) seeks Karṇa’s natural earrings and armor that make him nearly invulnerable. The speaker notes that surrendering them would make Karṇa killable, while Indra would be mocked for taking advantage. Karṇa therefore proposes an exchange—Indra may take them if he gives something in return; otherwise Karṇa refuses.