Shloka 83
Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
करिष्यामि हि ते काम॑ भागिनेय यथेप्सितम् । ब्रवीम्यत: क्लीबवत् त्वां युद्धादन्यत् किमिच्छसि
kariṣyāmi hi te kāmaṁ bhāgineya yathepsitam | bravīmy ataḥ klībavat tvāṁ yuddhād anyat kim icchasi ||
قال شاليا: «يا ابن أختي، سأقضي لك حاجتك كما تشتهي. غير أنّي أخاطبك كما يُخاطَب الجبان: سوى المعونة في هذه الحرب، ماذا تطلب أيضًا؟ قل—فإنّ أمنيتك ستُمنَح».
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between granting a request and maintaining warrior honor: Śalya offers to fulfill Karṇa’s wish, but frames the request with a shaming rebuke (“like a coward”), implying that seeking anything other than direct war-support is dishonorable for a kṣatriya.
In the war-setting, Śalya addresses his nephew Karṇa. He promises to satisfy Karṇa’s desire, but pointedly asks what Karṇa wants besides help in battle—using a contemptuous comparison to pressure him and assert a strict expectation of martial commitment.