Shloka 40
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
गन्धर्वर्घोषयात्रायां द्वियते यत् सुतस्तव । क्व तदा सूतपुत्रो5भूद् य इदानीं वृषायते
gandharvarghoṣayātrāyāṃ dviyate yat sutastava | kva tadā sūtaputro ’bhūd ya idānīṃ vṛṣāyate ||
Вайшампаяна сказал: «Когда во время “Гхоша-ятры” гандхарвы захватили твоего сына и уводили его пленником, где был тогда этот “сын возничего”, который ныне ревёт, как бык?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes empty bravado: true honor is measured by timely action and responsibility, not loud self-assertion after the fact. It also underscores ethical accountability—one who claims strength and loyalty should have stood firm when protection was actually needed.
A speaker recalls the earlier ‘Ghoṣa-yātrā’ incident where Duryodhana was seized by Gandharvas and taunts Karṇa (called ‘sūtaputra’) for not being effective then, even though he now speaks and postures aggressively like a bull.