Shloka 42
कर्णेन सैन्यस्थापनं तथा नानायुद्धसमवायः
Karna Reforms the Host and Multiple Duels Converge
सर्वत्र ब्राह्मणा: सन्ति सन्ति सर्वत्र क्षत्रिया: । वैश्या: शूद्रास्तथा कर्ण स्त्रिय: साध्व्यश्न सुव्रता:
sarvatra brāhmaṇāḥ santi santi sarvatra kṣatriyāḥ | vaiśyāḥ śūdrās tathā karṇa striyaḥ sādhvyaś ca suvratāḥ ||
Wika ni Śalya: “O Karṇa, may mga Brahmin sa lahat ng dako; gayundin, may mga Kshatriya sa lahat ng dako. Nariyan din ang mga Vaishya at Shudra; at sa bawat lupain ay may mga babaeng marangal—malinis at matatag sa mabubuting panata.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śalya emphasizes that all human types and virtues are universally present: every region contains Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and also virtuous, vow-keeping women. The ethical thrust is to avoid narrow pride or contempt based on place or group, recognizing the widespread presence of dharma and worthy conduct.
In the Karṇa Parva, Śalya addresses Karṇa in a counsel-like tone. Here he makes a general observation about society across lands, underscoring that noble qualities and established social groups exist everywhere—an admonition meant to shape Karṇa’s attitude and judgment amid the tensions of war.