Shloka 41

Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)

Devanagari script

प्राणे शौर्येडथ विज्ञाने विक्रमे चापि भारत । निमित्तज्ञानयोगे च सव्यसाची न मत्सम:,भारत! शारीरिक बल, शौर्य, अस्त्रविज्ञान, पराक्रम तथा शत्रुओंपर विजय पानेके उपायको दूँढ़ निकालनेमें भी सव्यसाची अर्जुन मेरी समानता नहीं कर सकते

Transliteration

prāṇe śaurye ’tha vijñāne vikrame cāpi bhārata | nimittajñānayoge ca savyasācī na matsamaḥ ||

Translation

Карна сказал: «О Бхарата! В жизненной силе и выносливости, в доблести, в владении оружием и знанием, и в ратной мощи — и даже в дисциплинированном прозрении, что различает средства одолеть врага, — Савьясачи Арджуна мне не равен».

Word by Word

प्राणेin (matters of) life/strength

शौर्येin valor

अथand/then

विज्ञानेin knowledge/skill

विक्रमेin prowess

चand

अपिalso/even

भारतO Bharata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

निमित्त-ज्ञान-योगेin the method/skill of knowing means (strategy)

चand

सव्यसाचीSavyasācin (Arjuna)

नnot

मत्समःequal to me

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karna

Arjuna (Savyasācī)

Bhārata (addressee)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Kṣatriya ideal of excellence in strength, courage, skill, and strategy, while also illustrating how pride and rivalry can shape ethical judgment in war—Karna asserts superiority rather than reflecting on restraint or dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Karṇa Parva, Karna speaks in the context of the Kurukṣetra war, asserting that Arjuna—renowned as Savyasācī—is not equal to him in physical vitality, valor, weapon-skill, prowess, and strategic discernment for defeating enemies.