Shloka 16
Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy
तमब्रवीत् तदा कर्ण: शृणु मे राजकुञ्जर । पादौ न धावये तावदू यावन्न निहतोअर्जुन:,उस समय कर्णने दुर्योधनसे कहा--“नृपश्रेष्ठ! मेरी यह प्रतिज्ञा सुन लो--“जबतक अर्जुन मेरे हाथसे मारा नहीं जाता, तबतक मैं दूसरोंसे पैर नहीं धुलवाऊँगा, केवल जलसे उत्पन्न पदार्थ नहीं खाऊँगा और आसुरव्रत (क्रूरता आदि) नहीं धारण करूँगा। किसीके भी कुछ माँगनेपर “नहीं है", ऐसी बात नहीं कहूँगा”
tam abravīt tadā karṇaḥ śṛṇu me rāja-kuñjara | pādau na dhāvaye tāvad yāvan na nihato 'rjunaḥ ||
Da sprach Karṇa zu Duryodhana: „O bester der Könige, höre meinen Schwur. Solange Arjuna nicht durch meine eigene Hand erschlagen ist, werde ich nicht zulassen, dass andere mir die Füße waschen.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a vow (pratijñā) functions as an ethical self-binding: Karṇa publicly restricts his comforts to demonstrate unwavering commitment to a declared duty/goal. It illustrates the Mahābhārata theme that personal honor and resolve are enforced through self-imposed discipline, especially within the kṣatriya code.
Vaiśampāyana reports Karṇa addressing Duryodhana. Karṇa announces a vow that he will not allow others to wash his feet until Arjuna has been slain, signaling his determination and intensifying the rivalry that drives the war narrative.