Shloka 19
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
एवं चैषां बाधमान: प्रभावं॑ गत्वैवाहं ताञ्जयाम्यद्य सूत । मित्रद्रोहो मर्षणीयो न मे<यं भग्ने सैन्ये यः समेयात् स मित्रम्
evaṃ caiṣāṃ bādhamānaḥ prabhāvaṃ gatvaivāhaṃ tāñ jayāmy adya sūta | mitradroho marṣaṇīyo na me 'yaṃ bhagne sainye yaḥ sameyāt sa mitram ||
Sañjaya said: “O charioteer, having thus come to understand the power with which they press us, I shall conquer them today. For me, betrayal of a friend is not something to be endured: in a routed army, whoever comes over to join—he is (no true) friend.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames loyalty as an ethical boundary even amid war: opportunistic switching of sides after defeat is condemned as ‘betrayal of a friend,’ implying that true friendship is proven by steadfastness under adversity, not by convenience.
The speaker addresses a charioteer, assesses the opposing side’s pressing strength, and declares an intention to defeat them that very day, while also rejecting as untrustworthy anyone who tries to join only after their own army has been routed.