Shloka 39
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
तामाशां हृदये कृत्वा कर्णमेवं तदाब्रवीत् । सूतपुत्र न ते पार्थ: स्थित्वाग्रे संयुयुत्मति
tām āśāṁ hṛdaye kṛtvā karṇam evaṁ tadābravīt | sūtaputra na te pārthaḥ sthitvāgre saṁyuyutsati ||
ครั้นเก็บความหวังนั้นไว้ในดวงใจ เขาจึงกล่าวแก่กรรณะว่า “โอ้บุตรสารถี ปารถะ (อรชุน) จะไม่ยืนต่อหน้าเจ้าเพื่อเข้ารบ”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how hope and pride can be used as tools of persuasion in conflict: by asserting that the opponent will not face him, the speaker tries to strengthen Karṇa’s resolve. Ethically, it points to the danger of self-deception and manipulative rhetoric in war, where confidence is cultivated not by truth but by strategic speech.
Sañjaya narrates that Duryodhana, holding onto a strong hope of victory through Karṇa, addresses Karṇa and claims that Arjuna will not stand before him to fight. It is a morale-boosting (and provocative) assertion aimed at pushing Karṇa toward decisive engagement.