Shloka 27
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
'शत्रुसूदन! तुमने अपने चार भाइयोंको अभयदान दिया है। युद्धमें उन्हें छोड़ देनेकी प्रतिज्ञापर दृढ़ रहना ।।
śatrusūdana! tvayā svacaturbhrātṝṇām abhayadānaṃ dattam. yuddhe tān parityaktum iti pratijñāyāṃ dṛḍho bhava. anāmayaṃ svasti ceti pṛthāto karṇam atravīt. tāṃ karṇo 'tha tathety uktvā tatas tau jagmatuḥ pṛthak.
Karna said: “O slayer of foes, you have granted fearlessness to your four brothers. Stand firm in your vow that, in battle, you will let them go.” Then Kunti (Pritha) said to Karna, “May you be free from illness; may well-being attend you.” Karna replied, “So be it,” accepting her words; and thereafter the two departed, each to their own place.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid inevitable war, dharma can appear as restraint: Karna binds himself to a limited harm by honoring a pledge of safety to Kunti’s other sons, showing that personal vows and moral boundaries still matter in conflict.
After Kunti speaks with Karna, Karna reiterates that the assurance of safety given to the four brothers must be upheld in battle. Kunti blesses him with well-being; Karna assents, and they part ways.