Shloka 22
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
कुरून् रक्षन् पाण्डुपुत्राञ्जिघांसं- स्त्यक्त्वा प्राणान् घोररूपे रणे5स्मिन् । सर्वान् संख्ये शत्रुसंघान् निहत्य दास्याम्यहं धार्तराष्ट्राय राज्यम्,“कौरवोंकी रक्षा और पाण्डवोंके वधकी इच्छा करके मैं प्राणोंकी भी परवा न कर इस महाभयंकर युद्धमें समस्त शत्रुओंका संहार कर डालूँगा और दुर्योधनको सारा राज्य सौंप दूँगा
kurūn rakṣan pāṇḍuputrāñ jighāṁsaṁs tyaktvā prāṇān ghorarūpe raṇe 'smin | sarvān saṅkhye śatrusaṅghān nihatya dāsyāmy ahaṁ dhārtarāṣṭrāya rājyam ||
Sañjaya said: “Protecting the Kurus and intent on killing the sons of Pāṇḍu, I will cast aside even my life in this dreadfully fierce battle. Having slain all the enemy hosts in the fight, I shall hand over the kingdom to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana).”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: fierce loyalty to one’s faction and kingly ambition can drive a warrior to disregard even his own life, yet such resolve is morally ambiguous because it is directed toward the destruction of kin and rivals in a fratricidal conflict.
A warrior’s vow is being reported by Sañjaya: he declares that he will defend the Kauravas, seek the death of the Pāṇḍavas, annihilate enemy forces in the terrible battle, and then deliver sovereignty to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son, Duryodhana.