Shloka 1
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
अपन छा | क्र चतुथों5 ध्याय: कर्णकी सहायतासे समागत राजाओंको पराजित करके दुर्योधनद्वारा स्वयंवरसे कलिंगराजकी कन््याका अपहरण नारद उवाच कर्णस्तु समवाप्यैवमस्त्रं भार्गवनन्दनात् । दुर्योधनेन सहितो मुमुदे भरतर्षभ,नारदजी कहते हैं--भरतश्रेष्ठ! इस प्रकार भार्गवनन्दन परशुरामसे ब्रह्मासत्र पाकर कर्ण दुर्योधनके साथ आनन्दपूर्वक रहने लगा
Nārada uvāca — Karṇas tu samavāpyaivam astraṁ Bhārgavanandanāt | Duryodhanena sahito mumude Bharatarṣabha ||
นารทกล่าวว่า “โอ้ผู้ประเสริฐในวงศ์ภารตะ! ครั้นกรรณะได้อาวุธนั้นจากโอรสแห่งภฤคุ (ปรศุราม) แล้ว เขาก็อยู่ร่วมกับทุรโยธน์ด้วยความยินดี.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical tension: extraordinary martial knowledge (astra) is not morally neutral—its impact depends on the company one keeps and the intentions guiding its use. Karṇa’s joy with Duryodhana subtly foreshadows how power allied with adharma-leaning ambition can become a cause of wider harm.
Narada reports that Karṇa has successfully received a powerful weapon/weapon-lore from Paraśurāma and, now allied with Duryodhana, lives in happiness—setting the stage for later events where this gained strength supports the Kaurava cause.