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 dit : «Ô joyau de la couronne des rois ! Quand viendra l’instant où Karṇa et Arjuna se rencontreront dans le duel d’un seul char, c’est toi-même qui devras prendre la charge d’aurige de Karṇa — il n’y a là pas la moindre incertitude. Ainsi, ô roi, si tu veux accomplir ce qui m’est cher, veille alors à la sauvegarde d’Arjuna. Et contiens aussi l’éclat guerrier du fils du sūta (Karṇa) ; car c’est cela qui nous apportera la victoire.»
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.