Shloka 12
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
उपनहा परैवरं ये मां नित्यमुपासते । नमस्कुर्वन्ति च सदा वसवो वासवं यथा
upanahā paraivaraṁ ye māṁ nityam upāsate | namaskurvanti ca sadā vasavo vāsavaṁ yathā |
Karna said: “Those who, having bound themselves in enmity against my foes, continually look to me for support—those who always bow to me just as the Vasus bow to Vāsava (Indra)—those who, relying on my very life-force, dare to stand firm before enemies and honor me with that hope: how could I shatter their cherished aims?”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames an ethical obligation of a protector: when people place their trust, honor, and courage in a leader’s strength, it becomes morally difficult for that leader to betray their expectations. Loyalty and responsibility to dependents are presented as binding duties.
In Udyoga Parva, Karna is speaking about those who align themselves with him against his enemies and continually honor him. He argues that since they rely on him for courage and success, he cannot bring himself to frustrate their hopes—implying his resolve to stand by his side and commitments in the coming conflict.