Shloka 27

Adhyāya 2: Nārada’s Disclosure—Karṇa’s Training and the Brahmin’s Curse (Śānti-parva)

Devanagari script

शप्त: प्रसादयामास कर्णस्तं द्विजसत्तमम्‌ | गोभिथर्थनैश्व रत्नैश्व स चैनं पुनरब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

śaptaḥ prasādayāmāsa karṇas taṃ dvijasattamam | gobhir arthaiś ca ratnaiś ca sa cainaṃ punar abravīt |

Translation

Bị lời nguyền giáng xuống, Karṇa cố giành lại ân huệ của vị Bà-la-môn tối thượng ấy bằng cách dâng nhiều bò, của cải và châu báu. Nhưng vị Bà-la-môn lại nói với chàng lần nữa, ngụ ý rằng hậu quả đạo lý của việc làm sai trái không dễ gì xóa bỏ chỉ bằng lễ vật.

Word by Word

• शप्तः: cursed
• शप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप्त (√शप्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रसादयामास: tried to please / pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् (प्रसादयति, caus.)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic), Third, Singular

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्विजसत्तमम्: the best of Brahmins
• द्विजसत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गोभिः: with cows
• गोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अर्थनैः: with wealth
• अर्थनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थन (धन/अर्थ)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रत्नैः: with jewels
• रत्नैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (एनद्-प्रयोग)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अब्रवीत्: said / spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Karṇa
• dvijasattama (a foremost brāhmaṇa)
• cows (go)
• wealth (artha)
• jewels (ratna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that ethical breaches can generate consequences that are not automatically erased by material compensation; gifts may express remorse, but dharma emphasizes intention, truthfulness, and the gravity of harm done.

What is happening in the narrative?

After receiving a curse, Karṇa attempts to appease the offended brāhmaṇa by offering cows, wealth, and jewels. The brāhmaṇa then speaks again, implying that the curse and its moral force remain a serious matter.