Shloka 63
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
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 |
स्वसेनया सम्प्रयान्तं राजानं पृष्ठतो जनाः नानुयान्ति चेत् न युक्तं तत्। राजन्, भवान् श्रेष्ठो नृपतिः स्वबलैः सह वनं प्राप्तः; एतादृशे कालेऽत्र निवसन्तः पाण्डवाः यदि पृष्ठतः नानुयायुः सहाय्यं च न कुर्युः, तद् न तेषां शोभनम्।
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.