Shloka 22
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception
दृष्टवा सूतं मेनिरे पाण्डुपुत्रा भित्त्वा नीत॑ लक्ष्यवरं धरायाम् | धनुर्धरा रागकृतप्रतिज्ञ- मत्यग्निसोमार्कमथार्कपुत्रम्,अग्नि, चन्द्रमा और सूर्यसे भी अधिक तेजस्वी सूर्यपुत्र कर्ण द्रौपदीके प्रति आसक्त होनेके कारण जब लक्ष्य भेदनेकी प्रतिज्ञा करके उठा, तब उसे देखकर महाथधनुर्धर पाण्डवोंने यह विश्वास कर लिया कि अब यह इस उत्तम लक्ष्यको भेदकर पृथ्वीपर गिरा देगा
dṛṣṭvā sūtaṃ menire pāṇḍuputrā bhittvā nītaṃ lakṣyavaraṃ dharāyām | dhanurdharā rāgakṛtapratijñam atyagnisomārkam athārkaputram ||
Seeing the charioteer’s son, the sons of Pāṇḍu concluded that he would indeed strike and bring down that excellent target to the ground. That mighty bowman—Karna, son of the Sun—his vow prompted by passionate attachment, rose to attempt the mark, blazing in splendor beyond even Agni, Soma, and Sūrya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary ability and brilliance can be driven by rāga (attachment), shaping one’s vows and actions; it implicitly invites ethical reflection on whether motivation rooted in passion leads to dharmic outcomes, even when the act itself displays heroic skill.
Karna, the charioteer’s son and son of the Sun, rises and vows to hit the difficult target (associated with Draupadī’s contest). Observing his confidence and prowess, the Pāṇḍavas believe he will successfully pierce the mark and bring it down.