Shloka 3
तवाद्य पृथिवी वीर नि:ःसपत्ना नृपोत्तम | तां पालय यथा शक्रो हतशत्रुर्महामना:
tvādya pṛthivī vīra niḥsapatnā nṛpottama | tāṁ pālaya yathā śakro hataśatrur mahāmanāḥ ||
اے بہادر، اے بہترین بادشاہ! آج زمین تمہارے لیے بےمدّعی ہو گئی ہے۔ پس تم اس کی نگہبانی کرو، جیسے عظیم دل شکر (اندرا) دشمنوں کو مار کر جہانوں کی حفاظت کرتا ہے—اسی طرح تم بھی اس راج کی پاسبانی کرو۔
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power gained through victory is not an end in itself; it creates a duty of protection. The verse frames kingship as pālana—sustaining order and welfare—modeled on Indra, who after defeating foes is expected to safeguard the world.
Karna addresses a ruler as the uncontested master of the earth and urges him to rule responsibly. He uses Indra (Śakra) as a paradigm: after subduing enemies, the rightful task is to maintain and protect the realm.