Shloka 38
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
दुःशासन सुबालो<यं विकर्ण: प्राज्ञवादिक: । पाण्डवानां च वासांसि द्रौपद्याश्चाप्युपाहर,दुःशासन! यह विकर्ण अत्यन्त मूढ़ है, तथापि विद्वानोंकी-सी बातें बनाता है। तुम पाण्डवोंके और द्रौपदीके भी वस्त्र उतार लो
duḥśāsana subālo ’yaṃ vikarṇaḥ prājñavādikaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṃ ca vāsāṃsi draupadyāś cāpy upāhara ||
Karna nói: “Duḥśāsana! Tên Vikarna này chỉ là một thằng nhóc ngu muội, vậy mà nói năng như bậc trí. Hãy đi, đem đến—và lột bỏ—y phục của các Pāṇḍava, và cả của Draupadī nữa.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how contemptuous speech and the misuse of authority can accelerate adharma: instead of heeding a principled objection (Vikarna’s), Karna derides it and urges an act of public humiliation, showing how moral collapse in a court begins with rejecting ethical counsel.
In the Kuru assembly during the dice-game crisis, Vikarna has spoken in defense of dharma. Karna responds by mocking Vikarna as an immature ‘wise-talker’ and instructs Duhshasana to seize/bring the garments of the Pandavas and Draupadi—an escalation toward Draupadi’s attempted disrobing.