Shloka 44

Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)

Devanagari script

तद्‌ भार्गवाय प्रायच्छच्छक्र: परमसम्मतम्‌ । तद्‌ दिव्यं भार्गवो महा[मददादू धनुरुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

tad bhārgavāya prāyacchac chakraḥ paramasammatam | tad divyaṃ bhārgavo mahātmā dadau me dhanur uttamam ||

Translation

Wika ni Karna: “Si Indra, ang may hawak ng cakra, na lubos ang paggalang sa busog na iyon, ay ipinagkaloob ang banal na busog kay Bhārgava (Paraśurāma). At si Bhārgava na dakila ang loob, siya namang nagbigay sa akin ng busog na sukdulan.”

Word by Word

• {'tad': 'that (aforementioned)', 'bhārgavāya': 'to Bhārgava

• to Paraśurāma (descendant of Bhṛgu)', 'prāyacchat': 'gave, bestowed', 'chakraḥ': '‘the discus(-bearer)’

• an epithet here for Indra (as in this passage’s usage)', 'parama-sammatam': 'highly approved/esteemed

• most cherished', 'divyam': 'divine, celestial', 'bhārgavaḥ': 'Bhārgava

• Paraśurāma', 'mahātmā': 'great-souled, noble', 'dadau': 'gave', 'me': 'to me', 'dhanuḥ': 'bow', 'uttamam': 'best, supreme'}

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• Indra (Śakra)
• Paraśurāma (Bhārgava)
• divine bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power in the epic is repeatedly framed as legitimate when it is received through rightful channels—divine sanction and guru-transmission—rather than seized by mere force. Karna’s statement functions as an ethical justification: his prowess is presented as grounded in a respected lineage of bestowal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna is speaking about the provenance of a divine bow: Indra (Śakra) gave it to Paraśurāma (Bhārgava), and Paraśurāma later gave that same supreme bow to Karna. The verse supports Karna’s self-presentation as a warrior equipped through extraordinary, authoritative sources.