Shloka 16
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
जैसे प्राण-संकटकालमें लोग अपने बन्धुजनोंका स्मरण करते हैं, उसी प्रकार समस्त सेनाओंमेंसे केवल महाधनुर्धर सूतपुत्र कर्णकी ओर ही उसका मन गया ।। धृतराष्ट्र रवाच ततो दुर्योधन: सूत पश्चात् किमकरोत्तदा | यद्वोडइगमन्मनो मन्दा: कर्ण वैकर्तनं प्रति
sañjaya uvāca | yathā prāṇa-saṅkaṭa-kāle lokāḥ sva-bandhu-janān smaranti, tathā sarvāsu senāsu kevalaṁ mahā-dhanurdharaṁ sūta-putraṁ karṇam eva prati tasya mano jagāma || dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | tato duryodhanaḥ sūta paścāt kim akarot tadā | yad voḍi-gaman-mano mandāḥ karṇa vaikartanaṁ prati ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Gaya ng mga tao sa sandaling nakabitin ang buhay—inaalala nila ang sarili nilang mga kamag-anak—gayundin, sa gitna ng lahat ng hukbo, ang isip niya’y tumuon lamang kay Karṇa, ang anak ng tagapaghatid ng karwahe, ang dakilang may hawak ng busog. Wika ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Pagkaraan niyon, O Sañjaya, ano ang ginawa ni Duryodhana, nang ang kanyang isip—balisa at nag-aalinlangan—ay napunta nang gayon kay Karṇa Vaikartana?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In moments of extreme danger, the mind instinctively clings to what it trusts most; here, Duryodhana’s exclusive turning toward Karna shows how attachment and reliance can narrow judgment and shape ethical choices in war.
Sanjaya reports that, amid the turmoil of battle, Duryodhana’s thoughts fix solely on Karna as his chief support. Dhritarashtra then asks Sanjaya what Duryodhana did next after his anxious mind turned toward Karna.