Shloka 4
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! माता कुन्ती और पिता साक्षात् सूर्यदेवके ऐसा कहनेपर भी उस समय सच्चे धैर्यवाले कर्णकी बुद्धि विचलित नहीं हुई ।। कर्ण उवाच न चैतच्छुद्दधे वाक्य क्षत्रिये भाषितं त्वया । धर्मद्वारं ममैतत् स्यान्नियोगकरणं तव,कर्ण बोला--राजपुत्रि! तुमने जो कुछ कहा है, उसपर मेरी श्रद्धा नहीं होती। तुम्हारी इस आज्ञाका पालन करना मेरे लिये धर्मका द्वार है, इसपर भी मैं विश्वास नहीं करता
Karna uvāca: na caitac chraddadhe vākyaṃ kṣatriye bhāṣitaṃ tvayā | dharmadvāraṃ mamaitat syān niyogakaraṇaṃ tava ||
Karna sprach: „O kshatriyische Frau, ich setze kein Vertrauen in diese Worte, die du gesprochen hast. Selbst wenn das Befolgen deiner Weisung für mich ein Tor zum Dharma sein könnte, kann ich es dennoch nicht als wahr annehmen.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames the issue as one of ethical credibility and duty: even if an action is presented as a ‘gateway to dharma,’ it must be grounded in truth and trustworthy intent. Dharma is not merely a convenient label for a command; it requires integrity, and Karna insists on judging the claim before accepting the obligation.
In the Udyoga Parva, Kunti approaches Karna and speaks about his birth and rightful affiliation. Karna responds that he does not trust her words; and even if obeying her instruction could be portrayed as righteous, he is not persuaded. The exchange sets up Karna’s inner conflict between newly revealed identity and his established loyalties.