Shloka 7

Adhyāya 5 (Śānti-parva): Nārada’s account of Karṇa—Jarāsandha encounter and the causal grounds of Karṇa’s fall

Devanagari script

पालयामास चम्पां च कर्ण: परबलार्दन: । दुर्योधनस्थानुमते तवापि विदितं तथा

Transliteration

pālayāmāsa campāṃ ca karṇaḥ parabala-ardanaḥ | duryodhana-sthānumate tavāpi viditaṃ tathā ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：迦尔那——摧折敌军之人——也治理了瞻波城；此事是在都利约陀那的许可之下进行的，你亦同样知晓。

Word by Word

पालयामासprotected, ruled

आमासwas (auxiliary forming the perfect)

चand

चम्पाम्Champa (city)

चand

कर्णःKarna

परबलार्दनःdestroyer of the enemy's forces

दुर्योधनof Duryodhana

स्थानुमतेin the opinion/assent

तवof you, to you

अपिalso, even

विदितम्known

तथाthus, so

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Karṇa

Campā

Duryodhana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse points to the ethical complexity of power: even a capable ruler like Karṇa exercises authority within a network of allegiance and sanction. It invites reflection on dharma in governance—how merit, loyalty, and political dependence interact in the exercise of rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada reports that Karṇa governed the city of Campā, and that this governance occurred with Duryodhana’s consent. The statement functions as a factual reminder within the broader Shānti Parva discourse, emphasizing Karṇa’s role and Duryodhana’s approving authority.