Shloka 256
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
कर्णश्न॒ रभसो नित्यं राजा त॑ चाप्यनुव्रत: । तात! दुर्योधन उन दिनों शकुनिको बड़ा नीतिज्ञ मानता था तथा वेगशाली वीर कर्ण भी नीतिज्ञ है, ऐसा समझकर राजा दुर्योधन उसका भी भक्त बना रहा
sañjaya uvāca | karṇaś ca rabhaso nityaṃ rājā taṃ cāpy anuvrataḥ | tāta! duryodhanaḥ un dineṣu śakuniko baḍā nītijña mānatā thā tathā vegāśālī vīraḥ karṇo'pi nītijña iti saṃmatya rājā duryodhanaḥ tasya api bhaktaḥ babhūva |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Si Karna ay laging padalus-dalos at mabilis kumilos, at ang hari (Duryodhana) ay nanatiling tapat na kaagapay niya. Mahal kong ginoo, noong mga panahong iyon itinuring ni Duryodhana si Shakuni na lubhang bihasa sa payong pampulitika; at sa pag-aakalang ang makapangyarihang mandirigmang si Karna ay marunong din sa patakaran at estratehiya, siya’y naging masugid ding tagasuporta nito.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how a ruler’s alliances and decisions can be driven by perceived strategic expertise (nīti) and personal loyalty rather than careful dharmic evaluation; reliance on advisers and ‘policy-knowledge’ without ethical grounding can shape—and distort—royal judgment.
Sanjaya describes Duryodhana’s attitude: he esteems Shakuni as a master of political counsel and, seeing Karna as similarly skilled and powerfully energetic, remains closely devoted to Karna as an ally and supporter during the war context of the Karna Parva.