Shloka 18
नूनमात्मविनाशाय पाण्डवेन किरीटिना । प्रतिज्ञेयं कृता कर्ण जयद्रथवर्ध॑ प्रति,“कर्ण! निश्चय ही किरीटधारी पाण्डव अर्जुनने अपने ही विनाशके लिये जयद्रथ-वधकी यह प्रतिज्ञा कर डाली है
nūnam ātmavināśāya pāṇḍavena kirīṭinā | pratijñeyaṃ kṛtā karṇa jayadrathavadhaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya said: “Surely, O Karṇa, Arjuna—the diadem-wearing Pāṇḍava—has made this vow to slay Jayadratha as though for his own destruction.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of a warrior’s vow: once a public pledge is made, dharma and honor demand completion, even if the undertaking appears self-destructive. It also reflects how vows can be used to create decisive pressure in battle.
After Abhimanyu’s death and Jayadratha’s role in blocking the Pāṇḍavas, Arjuna vows to kill Jayadratha within a fixed time. Sañjaya reports to Karṇa that this vow seems so perilous that it looks like Arjuna has pledged toward his own ruin if he fails.