Shloka 20
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa
Udyoga Parva 192
कर्णस्तु पड्चरात्रेण प्रतिजज्ञे महास्त्रवित् । तच्छुत्वा सूतपुत्रस्य वाक्यं सागरगासुतः
karṇas tu pañcarātreṇa pratijajñe mahāstravit | tac chrutvā sūtaputrasya vākyaṃ sāgaragāsutaḥ |
Dijo Sañjaya: Karṇa, conocedor de las grandes armas, juró que en cinco noches destruiría el ejército de los Pāṇḍava. Al oír la jactancia del hijo del auriga, Bhīṣma—hijo del río Gaṅgā—rió a carcajadas y dijo: «¡Oh hijo de Rādhā! Mientras no veas en el campo de batalla a Arjuna avanzar en un solo carro junto a Śrī Kṛṣṇa, portando caracola, arco y flechas, y mientras no lo enfrentes en combate, puedes exhibir ese orgullo y proferir cuantas palabras temerarias quieras».
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage cautions against premature pride and reckless speech. True strength is proven only when one faces the real test—in this case, confronting Arjuna with Kṛṣṇa—so vows and boasts should be tempered by humility and awareness of formidable opponents.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa vows to annihilate the Pāṇḍava forces within five nights. Bhīṣma, hearing this, laughs and rebukes him, implying that such confidence is empty until Karṇa actually meets Arjuna (with Kṛṣṇa as charioteer) in direct battle.