Shloka 10
कर्णेन सैन्यस्थापनं तथा नानायुद्धसमवायः
Karna Reforms the Host and Multiple Duels Converge
“उस देशमें मैंने इस प्रकार धर्मसंकरता फैलानेवाली बातें सुनीं। सारी पृथ्वीमें घूमकर केवल बाहीक देशमें ही मुझे धर्मके विपरीत आचार-व्यवहार दिखायी दिया” ।।
hanta śalya vijānīhi, hanta bhūyo bravīmi te | yad apy anyo ’bravīd vākyaṃ vāhīkānāṃ ca kutsitam ||
Sinabi ni Karna: “Makinig ka, Shalya, at unawain. Magsasalita pa akong muli. Pakinggan mo rin ang kasuklam-suklam na ulat na minsang isinalaysay ng isa pang manlalakbay tungkol sa mga Vāhīka.” Sa bahaging ito, inilalahad ni Karna ang kanyang pagbatikos bilang babalang nakaugat sa dharma: matapos maglakbay nang malawakan, iginiit niyang sa lupain lamang ng Vāhīka niya nasaksihan ang asal na salungat sa matuwid na pamantayan, at hinihimok niya si Shalya na tandaan ang gayong mga salaysay.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral judgment is advanced through reported speech: Karna appeals to ‘dharma’ by presenting testimony (a traveler’s report) as evidence of conduct he deems contrary to righteous norms, urging Shalya to recognize and reject such adharma.
During the Karna–Shalya exchange, Karna continues a denunciation of the Vahika region and its customs. He calls Shalya’s attention and says he will add more, introducing an additional account attributed to another traveler describing the Vahikas in contemptuous terms.