Shloka 9
यदा नानय॑ प्रवृणुते वरं वै द्विजसत्तम: । (विनास्य सहजं वर्म कुण्डले च विशाम्पते) । तदैनमब्रवीद् भूयो राधेय: प्रहसन्निव,राजन! जब जन द्विजश्रेष्ठने कर्णके सहज कवच और कुण्डलके सिवा दूसरी कोई वस्तु नहीं माँगी, तब राधानन्दन कर्णने उनसे हँसते हुए-से कहा--
yadā nānyat pravṛṇute varaṃ vai dvijasattamaḥ | vināsya sahajaṃ varma kuṇḍale ca viśāṃpate || tadainam abravīd bhūyo rādheyaḥ prahasan iva | rājan ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Khi vị ‘nhị sinh’ ưu tú ấy không chọn một ân huệ nào khác—ngoài áo giáp bẩm sinh và đôi hoa tai của Karṇa—thì Rādheya (Karna), như thể mỉm cười, lại cất lời với ông, hỡi đại vương.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain between the right to ask and the duty to give: a request may be framed as a legitimate boon yet aim at another’s vital protection. It sets up Karṇa’s famed generosity and honor, even when the gift demanded threatens his own safety.
A brāhmaṇa asks for a boon and chooses nothing except Karṇa’s innate armor and earrings. Hearing this, Karṇa (Rādheya) responds again, ‘as if smiling,’ indicating composure and perhaps irony as the exchange moves toward a decisive act of giving.