Shloka 17
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
वधाद् बन्धाद् भयाद् वापि लोभाद् वापि जनार्दन | अनृतं नोत्सहे कर्तु धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमत:,जनार्दन! इस समय मैं वध, बन्धन, भय अथवा लोभसे भी बुद्धिमान् धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधनके साथ मिथ्या व्यवहार नहीं करना चाहता
vadhād bandhād bhayād vāpi lobhād vāpi janārdana | anṛtaṁ notsahe kartuṁ dhārtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ || janārdana! idānīṁ ahaṁ vadha-bandhana-bhaya-athavā lobhena api buddhimān dhṛtarāṣṭra-putra duryodhanena sārdhaṁ mithyā-vyavahāraṁ kartuṁ na icchāmi ||
Karna said: “O Janārdana, whether from the threat of death, imprisonment, fear, or even greed, I cannot bring myself to act falsely. Even now, I do not wish to deal deceitfully with the wise son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—Duryodhana.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna asserts an ethical boundary: even under extreme pressures—fear of death, captivity, intimidation, or the lure of gain—he will not resort to falsehood or deceit. The verse highlights integrity and steadfast loyalty as virtues, even when the broader situation is morally complex.
In Udyoga Parva, Karna is speaking to Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) during the tense pre-war negotiations. He emphasizes that he will not betray or deal falsely with Duryodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, indicating his unwavering commitment to his ally despite impending conflict.