Shloka 26
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
“कर्ण! दैव बड़ा बलवान है। तुम जैसा कहते हो वैसा ही हो। इस युद्धके द्वारा कौरवोंका संहार होगा ।। त्वया चतुर्णा भ्रातृणामभयं शत्रुकर्शन । दत्त तत् प्रतिजानीहि संगरप्रतिमोचनम्
Karṇa uvāca: “Karṇa! daivaṃ baḍā balavān hai. tuma jaisā kahate ho vaisā hī ho. isa yuddhake dvārā kauravōṃkā saṃhāra hogā. tvayā caturṇāṃ bhrātṝṇām abhayaṃ śatrukarṣaṇa dattaṃ tat pratijānīhi saṅgarapratimocanam.”
Karna said: “Fate (daiva) is exceedingly powerful. Let it be exactly as you say. Through this war the Kauravas will be brought to destruction. O subduer of foes, you have granted fearlessness to the four brothers; therefore, stand by that pledge—release them from the peril of battle.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between human resolve and overpowering destiny (daiva), while ethically emphasizing fidelity to one’s pledged word—especially a promise of protection or restraint in war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war exchanges, Karna speaks in a context where the coming war is seen as fated to destroy the Kauravas, and he is reminded to uphold a prior assurance of safety given to ‘the four brothers’—to keep his vow and not violate that grant of fearlessness in battle.