Shloka 5
दुर्योधन–द्रोणसंवादः
Arjuna-vīrya-prasaṃśā and renewed battle formation
कर्ण उवाच परित्रातुमिह प्राप्तो यदि पार्थ पुरंदर: । तमप्याशु पराजित्य ततो हन्तास्मि पाण्डवम्,कर्णने कहा--राजन्! यदि साक्षात् इन्द्र यहाँ कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनकी रक्षा करनेके लिये आ गये हों तो उन्हें भी शीघ्र ही पराजित करके मैं पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनको अवश्य मार डालूँगा
karṇa uvāca paritrātum iha prāpto yadi pārtha purandaraḥ | tam apy āśu parājitya tato hantāsmi pāṇḍavam ||
Karna said: “O King, if Purandara (Indra) himself has come here to protect Partha (Arjuna), then I shall swiftly defeat even him; and thereafter I will surely slay the Pandava (Arjuna).”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the warrior ethos of unwavering resolve: Karna declares that even divine protection will not deter his pledged aim. Ethically, it illustrates how personal enmity and pride can harden into a vow that overrides prudence and reverence, a recurring tension in the Mahabharata’s treatment of dharma in war.
In the midst of the Drona Parva’s intense fighting, Karna addresses the king (Duryodhana) and proclaims that even if Indra comes to protect Arjuna, he will defeat Indra and then kill Arjuna. It is a boast and a declaration of intent, emphasizing Karna’s determination to confront Arjuna regardless of obstacles.