Shloka 16
यदि दास्यामि ते देव कुण्डले कवचं तथा | वध्यतामुपयास्यामि त्वं च शक्रावहास्यताम्,“इन्द्रदेव! यदि मैं आपको अपने दोनों कुण्डल और कवच दे दूँगा तो मैं तो शत्रुओंका वध्य हो जाऊँगा और संसारमें आपकी हँसी होगी। इसलिये (कर्णने सूर्यकी आज्ञाको याद करके कहा--) शक्र! आप कुछ बदला देकर इच्छानुसार मेरे कुण्डल और उत्तम कवच ले जाइये; अन्यथा मैं इन्हें नहीं दे सकता'
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
yadi dāsyāmi te deva kuṇḍale kavacaṃ tathā |
vadhyatām upayāsyāmi tvaṃ ca śakrāvahāsyatām ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“噢，神明！若我将耳环与护甲一并献给你，我便会变得可被敌人轻易杀害；而你，噢，释迦罗（因陀罗），也将成为世间的笑柄。因此，释迦罗——请先赐我相应的回报，然后你便可随意取走我的耳环与这上等护甲；否则，我不能相赠。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between generosity and self-preservation: giving away what protects one’s life can be morally admirable, yet it also has consequences for one’s duty in war and for public honor. It frames giving as ideally accompanied by fairness (a return or exchange), especially when the request is strategically motivated.
Indra (as Śakra) seeks Karṇa’s natural earrings and armor that make him nearly invulnerable. The speaker notes that surrendering them would make Karṇa killable, while Indra would be mocked for taking advantage. Karṇa therefore proposes an exchange—Indra may take them if he gives something in return; otherwise Karṇa refuses.