जतुगृहदाहः — The Burning of the Lac House and the Pāṇḍavas’ Concealed Escape
एवमुक्तस्तत: कर्णस्तथेति प्रत्युवाच तम् । हर्षाच्चोभौ समाश्लिष्य परां मुदमवापतु:,उसके यों कहनेपर कर्णने “तथास्तु” कहकर उसके साथ मैत्री कर ली। फिर वे दोनों बड़े हर्षसे एक-दूसरेको हृदयसे लगाकर आनन्दमग्न हो गये
evam uktas tataḥ karṇas tatheti pratyuvāca tam | harṣāc cobhau samāśliṣya parāṃ mudam avāpatuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Así interpelado, Karṇa respondió: “Así sea”, aceptando su propuesta. Entonces, llenos de júbilo, ambos se abrazaron y alcanzaron gran dicha, sellando su amistad y su compromiso mutuo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how a clear assent (“tathāstu”) and a sincere gesture (embrace) can formalize a bond of friendship and obligation; ethically, it points to the power of chosen alliances and the responsibilities they create.
Karṇa is addressed by another person (unnamed in this verse), he agrees with “tathāstu,” and the two, delighted, embrace—marking the establishment or confirmation of their friendship.