Shloka 58
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
अयं तु सदृश: शौरे: शल्य: समितिशोभन: । सारथ्यं यदि मे कुर्याद् ध्रुवस्ते विजयो भवेत्
ayaṃ tu sadṛśaḥ śaureḥ śalyaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ | sārathyaṃ yadi me kuryād dhruvas te vijayo bhavet ||
कर्ण उवाच—अयं तु शल्यः समितिशोभनः शौरेः सदृशः। यदि स मे सारथ्यं कुर्यात्, ध्रुवस्ते विजयो भवेत्।
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the decisive importance of guidance and control (the charioteer’s role) in ethical and strategic outcomes: victory is portrayed as depending not only on the warrior’s strength but on the quality of counsel, steadiness, and direction.
Karna is speaking about Shalya, praising him as battle-glorious and even comparable to Krishna, and asserting that if Shalya serves as Karna’s charioteer then victory for Karna’s side would be certain.