कर्ण उवाच
सर्व एव महात्मान इमे पुरुषसत्तमाः ॥
सेनापतित्वम् अर्हन्ति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥
कुलसंहननज्ञानैर् बलविक्रमबुद्धिभिः ॥
युक्ताः कृतज्ञा ह्रीमन्त आहवेष्व् अनिवर्तिनः ॥
युगपन् न तु ते शक्याः कर्तुं सर्वे पुरःसराः ॥
एक एवात्र कर्तव्यो यस्मिन् वैशेषिका गुणाः ॥
karṇa uvāca
sarva eva mahātmāna ime puruṣasattamāḥ ||
senāpatitvam arhanti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā ||
kulasaṃhananajñānair balavikramabuddhibhiḥ ||
yuktāḥ kṛtajñā hrīmanta āhaveṣv anivartinaḥ ||
yugapan na tu te śakyāḥ kartuṃ sarve puraḥsarāḥ ||
eka evātra kartavyo yasmin vaiśeṣikā guṇāḥ ||
[Karna:] All these great-souled, most excellent men deserve the office of commander — of this there should be no doubt. They are endowed with lineage, bodily strength, and knowledge, with might, valor, and intellect; they are grateful, modest, and unyielding in battle. But they cannot all be made leaders at once; only one must be appointed here — the one in whom the outstanding virtues lie.
6bdcdcdbca64 · publicado 19 jul 2026, 14:46:26 UTC
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Karna begins with generosity — he neither exalts himself nor belittles his companions, but acknowledges all as worthy: it is noble to give due credit to many before choosing one. But sober reason sets a limit to equality: there must be one leader, for dual rule destroys. It is telling that among a warrior's virtues he names not only strength but 'gratitude' and 'a sense of shame' — the measure of a man lies not in might alone. The verse teaches that a just estimation gives honor to all who deserve it, without flattering or belittling; that unity of command is necessary where many are equal; and that true worth is composed of valor together with gratitude and honor, not of strength alone.