Shloka 25
व्रतं वै मम लोको<यं वेत्ति कृत्स्नं विभावसो | यथाहं द्विजमुख्येभ्यो दद्यां प्राणानपि ध्रुवम्,सूर्यदेव! संसारमें सब लोग मेरे इस व्रतके विषयमें पूर्णरूपसे जानते हैं कि मैं श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंके याचना करनेपर उन्हें निश्चय ही अपने प्राण भी दे सकता हूँ
vrataṁ vai mama loko ’yaṁ vetti kṛtsnaṁ vibhāvaso | yathāhaṁ dvijamukhyebhyo dadyāṁ prāṇān api dhruvam, sūryadeva |
Karna sprach: „O Vibhāvasu, o Sonnengott! Die ganze Welt kennt mein Gelübde in vollem Umfang: Wenn die Vornehmsten der Zweimalgeborenen, die Brahmanen, mich bitten, werde ich gewiss sogar mein eigenes Leben geben. So fest steht mein Schwur der Freigebigkeit.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of steadfast generosity (dāna) upheld as a vow: true giving is not occasional but a firm commitment, even at personal cost. It also shows how public reputation and self-identity can bind a person to dharma-like obligations.
Karna addresses the Sun-god (his divine father) and declares that the whole world knows his famous vow: when eminent brāhmaṇas request, he will grant their request even if it costs him his life. This sets the stage for a test of his famed liberality.