Shloka 13

Devanagari script

कीर्तिश्नव जीवत: साध्वी पुरुषस्येति विद्धि तत्‌ प्रत्याख्येयस्त्वया तात कुण्डलार्थे सुरेश्वर:,तुम्हें यह मालूम होना चाहिये कि जीवित पुरुषके लिये ही कीर्ति प्रशंसनीय है। अतः तात! तुम्हें कुण्डलके लिये आये हुए देवराज इन्द्रको देनेसे इनकार कर देना चाहिये

Transliteration

kīrtiś caiva jīvataḥ sādhvī puruṣasyeti viddhi tat | pratyākhyeyas tvayā tāta kuṇḍalārthe sureśvaraḥ ||

Translation

Сурья сказал: «Запомни: для человека, который ещё жив, лишь слава по-настоящему достойна похвалы и имеет смысл. Потому, сын мой, ты должен отказать владыке богов, пришедшему за твоими серьгами».

Word by Word

कीर्तिश्नवpraiseworthy (as fame)

जीवत:of a living (person)

साध्वीgood, virtuous, commendable

पुरुषस्यof a man/person

इतिthus

विद्धिknow (you), understand

तत्that (fact)

प्रत्याख्येयःto be refused/rejected

त्वयाby you

तातdear one/son (address)

कुण्डलार्थेfor the sake of the earrings

सुरेश्वरःlord of the gods (Indra)

Speaker

सूर्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sūrya

Indra (Sureśvara)

Kuṇḍala (earrings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sūrya emphasizes that renown is meaningful only for one who remains alive; therefore, one should not sacrifice one’s life or essential protection merely to gain praise. Ethical action includes prudent self-preservation when a gift would lead to certain ruin.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sūrya warns his son (Karna) that Indra, the king of the gods, will approach seeking Karna’s earrings (and implicitly his natural protections). Sūrya advises Karna to refuse Indra’s request, since granting it would endanger Karna’s life and undermine the very purpose of seeking fame.