Shloka 52
स्वप्स्थे वा निहतस्ताभ्यामनित्यो हि रणे जय: । कृतार्थोड्द्य भविष्यामि हत्वा वाप्यथवा हत:
svapsthe vā nihatastābhyām anityo hi raṇe jayaḥ | kṛtārtho ’dya bhaviṣyāmi hatvā vāpy athavā hataḥ ||
قال كارنا: «إمّا أن أسقط بيدَي هذين الاثنين فأرقد إلى الأبد، فإن النصر في ساحة القتال غير مضمون؛ وإمّا أن أقتلَهما—أو أُقتلَ على أيديهما—فأصير اليوم مُنجَزَ الغاية تمامًا».
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that victory in war is not guaranteed; therefore a warrior measures fulfillment by steadfast resolve and readiness to accept either outcome—slaying the foe or falling in the attempt—rather than by certainty of success.
Karna declares his determination to confront a pair of opponents. He acknowledges the unpredictability of battle and states that he will be satisfied either by defeating them or by dying at their hands, treating the day’s combat as the decisive completion of his purpose.