Shloka 18
यदि हाद्य न गच्छेयं द्वैरथं सव्यसाचिना । अकीर्ति: स्याद्धूषीकेश मम पार्थस्य चो भयो:,हृषीकेश! अब यदि मैं अर्जुनके साथ द्वैरथ युद्ध न करूँ तो यह मेरे और अर्जुन दोनोंके लिये अपयशकी बात होगी
yadi hādya na gaccheyaṃ dvairathaṃ savyasācinā | akīrtiḥ syād dhṛṣīkeśa mama pārthasya cobhayoḥ ||
Karna said: “If today I do not go to fight a chariot-duel with Savyasācin (Arjuna), O Hṛṣīkeśa, it will bring disgrace upon both of us—upon me and upon Pārtha. For a warrior of our standing, refusing the appointed encounter would be a moral failure in the eyes of the world and a stain upon our honor.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic that a warrior must not shrink from a duly expected challenge; avoiding the encounter is framed as akīrti (disgrace) affecting both opponents, because honor is maintained by meeting one’s martial duty and public responsibility.
Karna, addressing Kṛṣṇa as Hṛṣīkeśa, insists that he must proceed to a dvairatha (chariot-duel) with Arjuna; he argues that refusing or failing to go would bring dishonor to both himself and Arjuna.