Shloka 27
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
'शत्रुसूदन! तुमने अपने चार भाइयोंको अभयदान दिया है। युद्धमें उन्हें छोड़ देनेकी प्रतिज्ञापर दृढ़ रहना ।।
śatrusūdana! tvayā svacaturbhrātṝṇām abhayadānaṃ dattam. yuddhe tān parityaktum iti pratijñāyāṃ dṛḍho bhava. anāmayaṃ svasti ceti pṛthāto karṇam atravīt. tāṃ karṇo 'tha tathety uktvā tatas tau jagmatuḥ pṛthak.
Karṇa dit : «Ô pourfendeur d’ennemis, tu as accordé l’intrépidité à tes quatre frères. Demeure ferme dans le vœu de les laisser partir au combat.» Alors Kuntī (Prithā) dit à Karṇa : «Puisses-tu être exempt de maladie ; que le bien-être t’accompagne.» Karṇa répondit : «Qu’il en soit ainsi», acceptant ses paroles ; puis tous deux se séparèrent, chacun regagnant sa place.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid inevitable war, dharma can appear as restraint: Karna binds himself to a limited harm by honoring a pledge of safety to Kunti’s other sons, showing that personal vows and moral boundaries still matter in conflict.
After Kunti speaks with Karna, Karna reiterates that the assurance of safety given to the four brothers must be upheld in battle. Kunti blesses him with well-being; Karna assents, and they part ways.