Shloka 37
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
कि चाप्येतेन तत्कर्म कृतपूर्व सुदुष्करम् । तैर्यथा पाण्डवै: सर्वैरैकैकेन कृतं पुरा
kiṃ cāpy etena tat karma kṛtapūrvaṃ suduṣkaram | tair yathā pāṇḍavaiḥ sarvair aikaikena kṛtaṃ purā ||
اور اس سوت پتر نے پہلے کبھی کون سا ایسا نہایت دشوار کارنامہ انجام دیا ہے جو پہلے تمام پانڈوؤں نے مل کر یا اُن میں سے ہر ایک نے الگ الگ کر دکھایا تھا؟
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical measure of worth: claims to greatness should be grounded in prior proven deeds. It implicitly contrasts demonstrated valor and responsibility (ascribed to the Pāṇḍavas) with mere assertion or partisan elevation (implied in the reference to the sūta’s son).
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war tensions, the narrator’s line frames a pointed comparison: it asks what exceptionally hard exploit the sūtaputra (Karṇa) has ever achieved that could match the earlier difficult feats performed by the Pāṇḍavas collectively or individually—thereby questioning his standing in the unfolding conflict.