Shloka 54
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
उस समय राजा शल्यने कहा--'कर्ण! इन नृपश्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिरको हाथ न लगाना, अन्यथा वे पकड़ते ही तुम्हारा वध करके अपनी क्रोधाग्निसे तुम्हें भस्म कर डालेंगे” ।।
sañjaya uvāca | atha śalyarājo 'bravīt— “karṇa! etān nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mā spṛśa; anyathā sa gṛhītvā tvāṃ krodhāgninā bhasmasāt kariṣyati” iti || atha karṇo mahārāja prahasan kutaścid iva pāṇḍavaṃ kutsayan abravīt— “yudhiṣṭhira! yaḥ kṣatriyakule jātaḥ kṣatradharme vyavasthitaś ca, sa mahāsamare prāṇarakṣārthaṃ bhīto yuddhaṃ tyaktvā kathaṃ palāyeta? mama tu niścayo 'yaṃ— tvaṃ kṣatradharme na nipuṇaḥ” iti ||
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: Noon ay nagbabala si Haring Shalya, “Karna, huwag mong gagalawin ang pinakamainam na hari na si Yudhishthira; sapagkat kung gagawin mo, sa sandaling mahawakan ka niya ay papatayin ka niya at gagawin kang abo sa apoy ng kanyang poot.” Ngunit si Karna, malakas na tumawa at nagsalita na wari’y nanlilibak sa Pandava, ay sumagot: “Yudhishthira! Paano makatatakas sa gitna ng dakilang labanan ang isang isinilang sa angkan ng Kshatriya at nakatatag sa dharma ng Kshatriya—iiwan ang digmaan at tatakbo dahil sa takot na mamatay? Ito ang aking paniniwala: hindi ka bihasa sa dharma ng Kshatriya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage foregrounds kṣatra-dharma as an ethical ideal in war: a Kshatriya is expected to stand firm in battle rather than flee from fear. At the same time, it shows how appeals to “dharma” can be weaponized—Karna uses the language of duty to shame and destabilize Yudhishthira, turning moral discourse into psychological warfare.
Shalya cautions Karna not to engage Yudhishthira directly, warning that Yudhishthira’s wrath and strength could lead to Karna’s death if he is seized. Karna responds with loud, derisive laughter and taunts Yudhishthira, questioning how a Kshatriya could abandon battle out of fear and implying that Yudhishthira lacks true proficiency in the warrior code.