Shloka 161
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
सर्वथा न हायं शल्य कर्ण: सूतकुलोद्धव: । सकुण्डलं सकवचं दीर्घबाहुं महारथम्
sarvathā na hāyaṃ śalya karṇaḥ sūtakulodbhavaḥ | sakuṇḍalaṃ sakavacaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahāratham ||
دُریودھن نے کہا—“اے شلیہ! یہ کرن کسی طرح بھی سوت کُل سے پیدا ہوا نہیں۔ کُنڈل اور کَوَچ سے آراستہ، دراز بازو، اور مہارَتھی—وہ تو صفِ اوّل کا سورما ہے۔”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between birth-based social labeling and demonstrated excellence: Duryodhana insists that Karṇa should not be diminished as merely “sūta-born,” emphasizing merit, heroic qualities, and martial stature as grounds for honor.
In the Karṇa Parva context, Duryodhana addresses Śalya (Karṇa’s charioteer) to defend and elevate Karṇa’s standing, describing him as a fully equipped, long-armed mahāratha—countering disparagement rooted in Karṇa’s supposed low birth.