Shloka 2036
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca
तांश्व सर्वान् हनिष्यामि सत्येनायुधमालभे । “दूसरे भी जो राजा अपनी बुद्धिपर मोह छा जानेके कारण मेरे समीप आ जायाँगे, उन सबका संहार कर डालूँगा। इस सत्यको सामने रखकर मैं अपना धनुष छूता (शपथ खाता) हूँ
tānś ca sarvān haniṣyāmi satyenāyudham ālabhe |
Sañjaya said: “All of them I shall slay. Holding fast to this truth, I touch my weapon (the bow) as a solemn vow.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ‘satya’ (truth) functions as a binding ethical force: a warrior publicly anchors his resolve in truth and seals it through a ritualized oath (touching the weapon), showing the epic tension between moral ideals and violent action.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s vow: he declares that he will kill all those opponents and, to confirm the pledge, touches his weapon—an established epic gesture for swearing a solemn, irrevocable resolve in the midst of battle.