Shloka 43
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
कण्णार्जुनाभ्यां सम्प्राप्ते द्वैरथे राजसत्तम । कर्णस्य भवता कार्य सारथ्यं नात्र संशय:
karṇārjunābhyāṃ samprāpte dvairathe rājasattama | karṇasya bhavatā kāryaṃ sārathyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ ||
युधिष्ठिर बोले—राजसत्तम! जब कर्ण और अर्जुन का द्वैरथ-युद्ध उपस्थित हो, तब आपको कर्ण का सारथि बनना होगा—इसमें कोई संशय नहीं।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes decisive performance of one’s assigned role in a righteous conflict: when a critical confrontation arises, duty (kārya) must be carried out without hesitation, and leadership requires clear, unambiguous instruction.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a king (rājasattama) and states that when the pivotal chariot-duel between Karṇa and Arjuna takes place, the addressee must act as Karṇa’s charioteer, presenting it as a settled requirement rather than a negotiable choice.