Shloka 536
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
अपवादतितिक्षाभिस्त्रिभिरेतैर्हि जीवसि । शल्य! एक तो मैं मित्र दुर्योधन और राजा धृतराष्ट्र दोनोंके कार्यकी ओर दृष्टि रखता हूँ, दूसरे अपनी निन्दासे डरता हूँ और तीसरे मैंने क्षमा करनेका वचन दिया है--इन्हीं तीन कारणोंसे तुम अबतक जीवित हो
apavāda-titikṣābhiḥ tribhir etaiḥ hi jīvasi | śalya! ekaḥ tu ahaṃ mitra-duryodhana-rājā dhṛtarāṣṭra ubhayayoḥ kāryaṃ prati dṛṣṭiṃ rakṣāmi, dvitīyaḥ sva-nindayā bhayāmi, tṛtīyaḥ ca mayā kṣamā-karaṇasya vacanaṃ dattam—ebhiḥ trībhir kāraṇaiḥ tvaṃ adyāpi jīvasi |
Karna said: “By enduring reproach in these three ways, you still live, O Shalya. First, I keep my eye on what serves both my friend Duryodhana and King Dhritarashtra. Second, I fear the disgrace that would come from my own blameworthy conduct. Third, I have given my word to forgive. For these three reasons, you are alive even now.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war and provocation, restraint can be grounded in (1) loyalty to a larger duty or political responsibility, (2) fear of moral disgrace, and (3) fidelity to one’s promise—showing that self-control is upheld not only by compassion but also by honor and obligation.
Karna addresses Shalya sharply, implying Shalya has provoked or insulted him. Karna explains why he has not retaliated: he must protect the interests of Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra, he fears the shame of acting blamefully, and he has pledged to forgive—therefore Shalya remains unharmed.