Mahabharata 7.175.63 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 63
'जैसे पूर्वकालमें स्कन्दके साथ रहकर इन्द्रने तारकासुरका वध किया था, उसी प्रकार तुम भी सात्यकिकी सहायता पाकर रणभूमिमें शूरवीर कर्णको मार डालो” ।।
ghaṭotkaca uvāca | evam eva mahābāho yathā vadasi māṃ prabho | tvayā niyukto gacchāmi karṇasya vadhakāṅkṣayā || alam evāsmi karṇāya droṇāyālaṃ ca bhārata | anyeṣāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca kṛtāstrāṇāṃ mahātmanām ||
«Comme jadis Indra, demeurant auprès de Skanda, abattit l’asura Tāraka, de même toi aussi : avec l’aide de Sātyaki, tue sur le champ de bataille le vaillant Karṇa.» Ghaṭotkaca dit : «Il en est ainsi, ô aux bras puissants, exactement comme tu me l’ordonnes, seigneur. Mandaté par toi, je pars avec la résolution d’amener la mort de Karṇa. Ô Bhārata, je suis pleinement capable d’affronter Karṇa, et je puis aussi tenir tête à Droṇa. Et je puis encore résister à ces autres kṣatriya magnanimes, accomplis dans l’art des armes.»
घटोत्कच उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights warrior-ethics in epic context: disciplined obedience to a rightful command, clarity of purpose in battle, and confidence grounded in capability. Ghaṭotkaca frames his action as service to his leader’s strategic aim, emphasizing resolve (saṅkalpa) and readiness to bear responsibility in a dharmic war setting.
Ghaṭotkaca responds to Arjuna’s directive by affirming he will go to the battlefield intent on killing Karṇa. He declares his competence not only against Karṇa but also against Droṇa and other highly trained kṣatriya warriors, signaling escalation and his willingness to take on major opponents.
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