Shloka 24
उद्योगपर्व — गान्धारी-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva — Gandhārī’s Counsel to Duryodhana
वैकर्तनं त्वां च मां च त्रीनेतान् मनुजर्षभ । पाण्डवेभ्य: प्रदास्यन्ति भीष्मो द्रोण: पिता च ते,“नरश्रेष्ठ पितामह भीष्म, आचार्य द्रोण और पिताजी--ये कर्णको, आपको और मुझे --इन तीनोंको ही पाण्डवोंके अधिकारमें दे देंगे
vaikartanaṁ tvāṁ ca māṁ ca trīn etān manujarṣabha | pāṇḍavebhyaḥ pradāsyanti bhīṣmo droṇaḥ pitā ca te ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O bull among men, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and your father will hand over these three—Vaikartana (Karna), you, and me—into the authority of the Pāṇḍavas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, on the eve of war, even revered elders and guardians of tradition may be driven by duty and political necessity to concede control over key persons to the opposing side. It points to the ethical tension between personal loyalty and perceived rightful authority (dharma).
Vaiśampāyana reports a prediction/statement addressed to a ‘best of men’: Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and the listener’s father will place Karna, the listener, and the speaker under the Pāṇḍavas’ power—foreshadowing shifting authority and the inevitability of confrontation.