Shloka 66

Devanagari script

प्रदाने जीवितस्यापि न मे<त्रास्ति विचारणा । मैं मृत्युसे भी उतना नहीं डरता जितना झूठसे डरता हूँ। विशेषत: सदा समस्त सज्जन ब्राह्मगोंको उनके माँगनेपर अपने प्राण देनेमें भी मुझे कोई सोच-विचार नहीं हो सकता

Transliteration

pradāne jīvitasya api na me ’trāsti vicāraṇā |

Translation

Karṇa sprach: „Selbst wenn es darum ginge, mein eigenes Leben hinzugeben, ist hier in mir kein Raum für Zögern. Ich fürchte die Unwahrheit mehr als den Tod; darum kann ich, wenn würdige Brāhmaṇas bitten, nicht abwägen—selbst mein Leben ist zu geben.“

Word by Word

प्रदानेin giving, in the act of donation

जीवितस्यof life

अपिeven, also

नnot

मेto me / for me

अत्रhere, in this matter

अस्तिis / exists

विचारणाdeliberation, hesitation

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karna

brāhmaṇas (as a class of recipients)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Karna presents an ethic where truthfulness and integrity outweigh fear of death, and where the duty of giving (especially to worthy brāhmaṇas) is upheld so strongly that even one’s life may be offered without hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Speaking as Karna, the verse asserts his unwavering resolve in dāna: he claims he does not pause to reconsider even if the gift demanded is his own life, emphasizing his reputation for generosity and his commitment to avoiding falsehood.