Mahabharata · 7.4.6–7
॥
Devanāgarī
हिमवद्दुर्गनिलयाः किराता रणकर्कशाः ॥
दुर्योधनस्य वशगाः कृताः कर्ण त्वया पुरा ॥
तत्र तत्र च संग्रामे दुर्योधनहितैषिणा ॥
बहवश् च जिता वीरास् त्वया कर्ण महौजसा ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
himavaddurganilayāḥ kirātā raṇakarkaśāḥ ||
duryodhanasya vaśagāḥ kṛtāḥ karṇa tvayā purā ||
tatra tatra ca saṃgrāme duryodhanahitaiṣiṇā ||
bahavaś ca jitā vīrās tvayā karṇa mahaujasā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
हिमवद्दुर्गनिलयाःhimavaddurganilayāḥdwelling in the strongholds of Himavat; [inhabitants] of the Himalayan fortresses
किराताःkirātāḥthe Kiratas; [the mountain people] the Kiratas
रणकर्कशाःraṇakarkaśāḥfierce in battle; harsh in combat
दुर्योधनस्यduryodhanasyaof Duryodhana; [under the power] of Duryodhana
वशगाःvaśagāḥsubject; submissive
कृताःkṛtāḥmade; brought
कर्णkarṇaO Karna
त्वयाtvayāby you; [precisely] by you
पुराpurāformerly; once
तत्र तत्रtatra tatrahere and there; in this and that
चcaand; also
संग्रामेsaṃgrāmein battle; in combat
दुर्योधनहितैषिणाduryodhanahitaiṣiṇā[by you,] seeking the welfare of Duryodhana; caring for the benefit of Duryodhana
बहवःbahavaḥmany; numerous
चcaand; also
जिताःjitāḥdefeated; overcome
वीराःvīrāḥheroes; warriors
त्वयाtvayāby you; [precisely] by you
कर्णkarṇaO Karna
महौजसाmahaujasāmighty; [you] whose power is great
Translation
[Bhishma:] The Kiratas, fierce in battle, dwelling in the strongholds of Himavat, were once brought by you under the sway of Duryodhana, O Karna. And in battle after battle, caring for the benefit of Duryodhana, many heroes were overcome by you, O Karna, warrior of great might.
Version
d590449c5846 · published Jul 19, 2026, 2:46:26 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The list of subdued peoples and heroes is evidence that Karna's might is no empty word: the grandfather backs his blessing with deeds, not flattery. And once more the refrain sounds: 'caring for the benefit of Duryodhana' — all of Karna's valor is a gift to friendship, a loyalty untouched by self-interest. But it is precisely here, beneath the praise, that sorrow hides: so much strength and devotion given to one whose cause is unrighteous. The verse teaches that genuine merit speaks for itself and needs no embellishment; that loyalty giving all its strength to a friend is beautiful as a virtue; and that the tragedy lies not in a lack of valor but in whom it is given to — for the greatest devotion, serving untruth, will share its fate.