Shloka 44
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
नूपशिरोमणे! जब कर्ण और अर्जुनके द्वैरथयुद्धका अवसर प्राप्त होगा, उस समय आपको ही कर्णके सारथिका काम करना पड़ेगा; इसमें तनिक भी संशय नहीं है ।।
nūpaśiromaṇe! yadā karṇa-arjunayoḥ dvairatha-yuddhasyāvasaro prāpsyate, tadā tvam eva karṇasya sārathikāryaṁ kartavyaḥ; atra tan-mātraṁ api saṁśayo nāsti. tatra pālyo 'rjuno rājan yadi mat-priyam icchasi. tejo-vadhaś ca te kāryaḥ sūteḥ asmāt jayāvahaḥ.
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «¡Oh joya cimera entre los reyes! Cuando llegue el momento en que Karṇa y Arjuna se enfrenten en combate de un solo carro, tú mismo habrás de asumir el oficio de auriga de Karṇa; de ello no hay la menor duda. Por tanto, oh rey, si deseas hacer lo que me es grato, asegura entonces la salvación de Arjuna. Y refrena también el fulgor marcial del hijo del sūta (Karṇa); pues eso nos traerá la victoria».
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights pragmatic dharma in wartime: a king must prioritize the protection of his side’s key warrior (Arjuna) and adopt strategic measures—even against an opponent’s prowess—so that the larger cause and responsibility of leadership are upheld.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a king with an honorific, anticipating the decisive Karṇa–Arjuna chariot duel. He insists that the addressee must serve as Karṇa’s charioteer at that moment and, if he wishes to please Yudhiṣṭhira, must ensure Arjuna’s safety and restrain the charioteer’s (Karṇa’s) fighting brilliance to secure victory for the Pāṇḍavas.