Shloka 39
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
तत: श्रेयस्करं यच्च तन्निबोध जनेश्वर । आयुधानां च मे वीर्य दिव्यानामर्जुनस्य च,जनेश्वर! अब जो यहाँ हितकर बात है, उसे सुनिये। मेरे तथा अर्जुनके पास भी दिव्यास्त्रोंका समान बल है
tataḥ śreyaskaraṃ yac ca tan nibodha janeśvara | āyudhānāṃ ca me vīryaṃ divyānām arjunasya ca ||
ดังนั้น โอ เจ้าแห่งมนุษย์ จงตระหนักถึงสิ่งที่เป็นประโยชน์ยิ่ง ในเรื่องอาวุธทิพย์นั้น กำลังของข้าและของอรชุนเสมอกัน
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames his counsel in terms of śreyas (the greater good) and asserts parity in divine weapon-power between himself and Arjuna, implying that outcomes depend on judgment, timing, and broader factors beyond mere possession of celestial arms.
Karna addresses a ruler (‘janeśvara’) and urges him to heed what is beneficial; he then states that both he and Arjuna possess divine weapons of equal potency, setting the tone for strategic counsel amid the escalating conflict.