Shloka 22
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca
अर्जुनेन प्रतिज्ञाते वधे कर्णसुतस्य तु
arjunena pratijñāte vadhe karṇasutasya tu
Sañjaya sprach: Als Arjuna das feierliche Gelübde abgelegt hatte, den Tod von Karṇas Sohn herbeizuführen, wurde der Verlauf der Schlacht von der sittlichen Schwere des Kriegerwortes durchdrungen—wo Ehre, Pflicht und die schreckliche Unausweichlichkeit des Krieges zusammenlaufen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical gravity of a kṣatriya’s pratijñā (solemn vow): once publicly undertaken, it becomes a binding commitment tied to honor and dharma, even when it leads into harsh and tragic consequences on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports a turning point in the battle narrative: Arjuna has vowed to kill Karṇa’s son, and this vow sets the immediate martial objective and heightens the stakes for both sides, shaping subsequent actions and confrontations.