Shloka 473
न संदध्यां द्विः शरं चैव नाग यद्यर्जुनानां शतमेव हन्याम् । कर्ण बोला--नाग! आज रणभूमिमें कर्ण दूसरेके बलका सहारा लेकर विजय पाना नहीं चाहता है। नाग! मैं सौ अर्जुनको मार सकूँ तो भी एक बाणका दो बार संधान नहीं कर सकता
na sandadhyāṃ dviḥ śaraṃ caiva nāga yady arjunānāṃ śatam eva hanyām |
Karna said: “O Nāga, I will not fit and release the same arrow twice. Even if I were able to slay a hundred Arjunas, I still cannot bring myself to take victory by leaning on another’s power. In battle, I choose to stand on my own prowess and honor.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna asserts a warrior’s ethic: victory should come from one’s own skill and courage, not by exploiting another’s power or repeating a weapon-use that feels dishonorable. The verse highlights integrity in combat even amid ruthless war.
In the Karna Parva battle context, Karna addresses a Nāga (serpent-being) connected with an arrow/weapon. He declares he will not ‘set the arrow twice’—i.e., he refuses a repeated or externally empowered shot—saying that even the ability to kill many Arjunas would not justify such a means.