Shloka 21
कर्ण–कृष्णसंवादः (Karṇa–Kṛṣṇa-saṃvādaḥ) — Karṇa’s Statement on Lineage, Loyalty, and the ‘Śastra-yajña’ Metaphor
अभिषिक्तस्य कौन्तेयो धारयिष्यति मूर्थनि | इसी प्रकार पाँचों भाई पुरुषसिंह पाण्डव
abhīṣiktasya kaunteyo dhārayiṣyati mūrdhani | iti prakāraṁ pāṇḍavāḥ pañca bhrātaraḥ puruṣasiṁhāḥ, draupadyāḥ pañca putrāḥ, pāñcāla-cedi-deśayoḥ nṛpāś ca, aham ca—ete sarve tvāṁ pṛthivīpālaka-sāmrājya-pade ’bhiṣiñcayiṣyāmaḥ | dharmavratadharaḥ dharmātmā kuntīnandanaḥ rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ tava yuvārājaḥ bhaviṣyati, yaḥ śveta-cāmaraṁ haste gṛhītvā tava pṛṣṭhataḥ rathe niṣaṇṇaḥ syāt | mahābalī kuntīkumāraḥ bhīmasenaḥ rājābhiṣekānantarāt tava mastake mahān śveta-chatraṁ dhārayiṣyati || kiḍkiṇī-śata-nirghoṣaṁ vaiyāghra-parivāraṇaṁ śveta-aśva-yuktaṁ tava rathaṁ arjunaḥ sārathitvena vāhayiṣyati, abhimanyuś ca sadā tava sevārthaṁ samīpe tiṣṭhati |
Vāyu-deva said: “When you are consecrated, the son of Kuntī will bear the royal insignia upon his head. In this very manner, the five Pāṇḍava brothers—lion-like among men—together with Draupadī’s five sons, the kings of Pāñcāla and Cedi, and I as well, will anoint you to the station of sovereign protector of the earth. The righteous-souled Yudhiṣṭhira, Kuntī’s son and steadfast in austere vows, will be your heir-apparent; seated behind you on the chariot, he will attend you holding a white yak-tail fan. After the coronation, the mighty Bhīmasena, Kuntī’s son, will hold aloft a great white parasol over your head. Arjuna will drive your chariot as charioteer—your car covered with tiger-skin, harnessed to white horses, and resonant with the sweet sound of hundreds of small bells—while Abhimanyu will stand ever near, ready for your service.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights rajadharma through symbols of legitimate sovereignty: coronation is not merely power but a publicly affirmed moral order, sustained by loyal service. The white parasol and fan signify rightful rule, while the brothers’ roles show that kingship is upheld by shared duty, restraint, and devoted attendance rather than solitary domination.
Vāyu-deva foretells (or proclaims) a royal consecration: the Pāṇḍavas, allied kings of Pāñcāla and Cedi, and Vāyu himself will anoint the addressed hero as emperor. Yudhiṣṭhira will serve as crown prince with the white fan, Bhīma will hold the white parasol after the coronation, Arjuna will drive the bell-resounding chariot drawn by white horses, and Abhimanyu will remain close in constant service.