Mahabharata 7.2.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 21
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
'या तो मैं सत्पुरुषोंके करनेयोग्य इस श्रेष्ठ कार्यको सम्पन्न करूँगा अथवा अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग करके भीष्मजीके ही पथपर चला जाऊँगा। मैं संग्रामभूमिमें शत्रुओंके समस्त समुदायोंका संहार कर डालूँगा अथवा उन्हींके हाथसे मारा जाकर वीरलोक प्राप्त कर लूँगा ।।
samprākruṣṭe ruditastrīkumāre parāhate pauruṣe dhārtarāṣṭre | mayā kṛtyam iti jānāmi sūta tasmād rājñas tv adya śatrūn vijeṣye ||
સંજય બોલ્યો—“હે સૂત! ધૃતરાષ્ટ્રપુત્રનું પૌરુષ પ્રતિહત થયું છે; તેની સ્ત્રીઓ અને બાળકો આર્તનાદ કરીને રડી રહ્યા છે. આવા સમયે મને શું કરવું જોઈએ તે હું જાણું છું. તેથી આજે હું રાજાના શત્રુઓને અવશ્ય જીતવા પ્રયત્ન કરીશ।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a wartime ethic of decisive action under pressure: when a ruler’s cause falters and dependents suffer, one must discern one’s kṛtya (duty) and act with resolve. It highlights the tension between compassion for the vulnerable and the harsh obligations assumed within a royal-warrior order.
In the Drona Parva’s early movement, the Kaurava side is portrayed as shaken—Duryodhana’s valor is said to be checked and his household is in distress. The speaker declares that he understands what must be done and resolves to defeat the king’s enemies that very day, signaling renewed commitment to the Kaurava war effort.
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