Jayadratha Approaches Draupadī in the Forest
Hospitality, Persuasion, and Reproach
स्वसेनया सम्प्रयान्तं नानुयान्ति सम पृष्ठतः । राजन! आप श्रेष्ठ नरेश हैं और अपनी सेनाके साथ वनमें पधारे हैं, ऐसी दशामें यहाँ रहनेवाले पाण्डव यदि आपके पीछे-पीछे न चलते--आपकी सहायता न करते तो यह उनके लिये अच्छी बात न होती
svasenayā samprayāntaṃ nānuyānti sama-pṛṣṭhataḥ | rājan! āpa śreṣṭha nareśa haiṃ aura apanī senā ke sātha vana meṃ padhāre haiṃ, aisī daśā meṃ yahāṃ rahanevāle pāṇḍava yadi āpake pīche-pīche na calte—āp kī sahāyatā na karte to yaha unake liye acchī bāta na hotī |
Карна сказал: «Когда царь выступает со своим войском, те, кто позади, не должны не следовать за ним в тылу. О царь, ты — правитель превосходный и пришёл в лес со своими силами; в таком положении, если Пандавы, живущие здесь, не пошли бы за тобой и не оказали бы тебе помощи, это было бы для них неприлично.»
कर्ण उवाच
Karna frames a norm of royal and martial conduct: when a rightful king advances with his army, those positioned to support him—especially allied or resident kṣatriyas—should follow and assist; failing to do so is ethically improper and politically disloyal.
Karna addresses a king who has come into the forest with troops and argues that the Pāṇḍavas living there ought to have followed behind and helped him; he presents their non-participation as unbecoming, thereby urging expectations of support and alignment.