Shloka 23
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
नते जातु न शिष्यन्ति पुत्रा: पजच यशस्विनि । निरर्जुना: सकर्णा वा सार्जुना वा हते मयि
na te jātu na śiṣyanti putrāḥ pañca yaśasvini | nirarjunāḥ sakarṇā vā sārjunā vā hate mayi ||
Karna dit : «Ô dame illustre, tes cinq fils ne seront jamais entièrement effacés. Si Arjuna est tué, tes cinq fils demeureront avec Karna ; et si je suis tué, tes cinq fils demeureront avec Arjuna.» Par cette assurance, Karna borne le conflit à venir par un serment : si farouche que soit la guerre, la lignée de Kuntī ne connaîtra pas l’extinction totale, et la lutte s’achèvera par la chute d’Arjuna ou de Karna, non par l’anéantissement de tous les Pāṇḍava.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid inevitable war, ethical restraint can be expressed through vows that limit harm. Karna’s statement functions as a moral boundary: he will not seek the total destruction of Kunti’s sons; the conflict is narrowed to a decisive rivalry (Karna vs. Arjuna) rather than indiscriminate annihilation.
In Udyoga Parva, during the pre-war negotiations and revelations, Karna speaks to Kunti. He reassures her that her five sons will not all perish: either Arjuna will fall and the remaining brothers will live with Karna, or Karna will fall and the brothers will live with Arjuna.