सकुण्डलं सकवचं दिव्यलक्षणलक्षितम् ॥
कथम् आदित्यसंकाशं मृगी व्याघ्रं जनिष्यति ॥
पृथिवीराज्यम् अर्हो ऽयं नाङ्गराज्यं नरेश्वरः ॥
अनेन बाहुवीर्येण मया चाज्ञानुवर्तिना ॥
यस्य वा मनुजस्येदं न क्षान्तं मद्विचेष्टितम् ॥
रथम् आरुह्य पद्भ्यां वा विनामयतु कार्मुकम् ॥
sakuṇḍalaṃ sakavacaṃ divyalakṣaṇalakṣitam ||
katham ādityasaṃkāśaṃ mṛgī vyāghraṃ janiṣyati ||
pṛthivīrājyam arho 'yaṃ nāṅgarājyaṃ nareśvaraḥ ||
anena bāhuvīryeṇa mayā cājñānuvartinā ||
yasya vā manujasyedaṃ na kṣāntaṃ madviceṣṭitam ||
ratham āruhya padbhyāṃ vā vināmayatu kārmukam ||
"With earrings, with armor, marked with divine signs, like the sun — how could a mere doe have given birth to such a tiger? This lord of men is worthy of the kingdom of the whole earth, not of Anga alone — by this valor of his arms, and by me, obedient to him. And whoever among men cannot bear this deed of mine, let him, mounted on a chariot or on foot, bend his bow against me."
069c6dfa113a · published Jul 12, 2026, 4:53:32 PM UTC
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Here Duryodhana completes his championing of Karna with a challenge to all who are displeased. Telling is his phrase 'and by me, obedient to him' (ajna-anuvartina): Duryodhana does not merely exalt Karna but places himself at his disposal — a devotion rare in a proud king toward a friend. It is telling that even in a wicked heart friendship can be sincere and selfless; and this good trait, turned toward an unworthy cause, makes Duryodhana not a flat villain but a tragic figure. Telling, too, is the comparison of Karna to a tiger not born of a doe: Duryodhana perceives in him — rightly, though he does not know the truth — a higher origin. Thus scripture shows a complex thing: championing the humiliated, loyal friendship, and a bold challenge, all woven together in a single act by an unrighteous man in whom true greatness nonetheless flashes forth.