Shloka 25
Jatugṛha-dāhānantara-vṛttāntaḥ
Aftermath of the Lac House Fire
स चापि वीर: कृतशस्त्रनिश्रम: परेण साम्नाभ्यवदत् सुयोधनम् । युधिष्ठटिरस्याप्यभवत् तदा मति- न कर्णतुल्यो5स्ति धनुर्धर: क्षितो,वीरवर कर्णने शस्त्रोंके अभ्यासमें बड़ा परिश्रम किया था, वह भी दुर्योधनके साथ परम स्नेह और सान्त्वनापूर्ण बातें करने लगा। उस समय युधिष्ठिरको भी यह विश्वास हो गया कि इस पृथ्वीपर कर्णके समान धनुर्धर कोई नहीं है
sa cāpi vīraḥ kṛtaśastraniśramaḥ pareṇa sāmnābhyavadat suyodhanam | yudhiṣṭhirasya apy abhavat tadā matiḥ na karṇatulyo 'sti dhanurdharaḥ kṣitau ||
วีรบุรุษผู้อุตสาหะตรากตรำในการฝึกอาวุธนั้น ยังได้กล่าวกับสุโยธนะด้วยมารยาทอันสูงยิ่งและถ้อยคำปลอบประโลมให้ปรองดอง ครั้นนั้นเอง ยุธิษฐิระก็แน่ใจว่า บนแผ่นดินนี้ไม่มีนักธนูผู้ใดเสมอด้วยกรรณะ
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and skill are ethically significant: extraordinary martial ability (like Karṇa’s) earns recognition even from rivals, yet such prowess, when aligned with partiality or unjust aims, can intensify the moral stakes of impending conflict. The verse also highlights sāman—gentle, conciliatory speech—as a strategic and social instrument among warriors and princes.
A renowned warrior, hardened by rigorous weapons-practice, speaks to Suyodhana in a highly conciliatory manner. The scene leads Yudhiṣṭhira to form (or confirm) the conviction that no archer on earth matches Karṇa, underscoring Karṇa’s fame and foreshadowing his decisive role in later hostilities.