Shloka 26
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
“कर्ण! दैव बड़ा बलवान है। तुम जैसा कहते हो वैसा ही हो। इस युद्धके द्वारा कौरवोंका संहार होगा ।। त्वया चतुर्णा भ्रातृणामभयं शत्रुकर्शन । दत्त तत् प्रतिजानीहि संगरप्रतिमोचनम्
Karṇa uvāca: “Karṇa! daivaṃ baḍā balavān hai. tuma jaisā kahate ho vaisā hī ho. isa yuddhake dvārā kauravōṃkā saṃhāra hogā. tvayā caturṇāṃ bhrātṝṇām abhayaṃ śatrukarṣaṇa dattaṃ tat pratijānīhi saṅgarapratimocanam.”
قال كارنا: «إنّ القضاء والقدر (دايفا) بالغُ القوّة. فليكن الأمر كما تقول تمامًا. وبهذه الحرب يُساق الكورافا إلى الهلاك. يا قاهر الأعداء، لقد منحتَ الإخوة الأربعة الأمان من الخوف؛ فاثبت على ذلك العهد—وأطلقهم من خطر ساحة القتال.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between human resolve and overpowering destiny (daiva), while ethically emphasizing fidelity to one’s pledged word—especially a promise of protection or restraint in war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war exchanges, Karna speaks in a context where the coming war is seen as fated to destroy the Kauravas, and he is reminded to uphold a prior assurance of safety given to ‘the four brothers’—to keep his vow and not violate that grant of fearlessness in battle.