Shloka 18
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
सर्वानहं हनिष्यामि धार्तराष्ट्रानूस सौबलान् । दुर्योधनं च कर्ण च यो वान्य: प्रतियोत्स्यते,“महाराज! महामते! धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्र कितनी ही सेनाओंकी मोर्चाबन्दी क्यों न कर लें, हम उन्हें शीघ्र यमलोकका पथिक बनाकर ही छोड़ेंगे। मैं स्वयं ही शकुनिसहित समस्त धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंको मार डालूँगा। दुर्योधन, कर्ण अथवा दूसरा जो कोई योद्धा मेरा सामना करेगा, उसे भी अवश्य मारूँगा
sarvān ahaṁ haniṣyāmi dhārtarāṣṭrān saubalān | duryodhanaṁ ca karṇaṁ ca yo vānyaḥ pratiyotsyate ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «سأقتلهم جميعًا—أبناء دِهرتراشترا مع السوبالا. ودوريودhana وكَرْṇa أيضًا—وأيُّ مَن يجرؤ أن يقف ليقاتلني.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension in the Mahābhārata between righteous duty in conflict (kṣatriya-dharma) and the corrosive force of personal rage. A vow to annihilate opponents may be framed as justice, yet it also risks becoming indiscriminate vengeance—showing how easily dharma can be claimed while passions drive action.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a warrior voice declares an uncompromising resolve: to kill the Kauravas (Dhārtarāṣṭras) and the Saubala faction, naming Duryodhana and Karṇa explicitly, and extending the threat to any other challenger. It functions as a battlefield-style oath that escalates the conflict and signals imminent violent confrontation.