Shloka 42
भीष्म-पर्व अध्याय १०० — त्रिगर्त-आक्रमण, भीष्म-केन्द्रित पुनर्संयोजन, तथा शक्त्यस्त्र-विनिमय
अनुजानीहि समरे कर्णमाहवशोभिनम् | स जेष्यति रणे पार्थान् ससुहृदू्गणबान्धवान्,“शक्तिशाली राजन! यदि पाण्डवोंके प्रति दयाभाव अथवा मेरे दुर्भाग्यवश मेरे प्रति द्ेषभाव रखनेके कारण आप पाण्डवोंकी रक्षा करते हैं तो समरभूमिमें शोभा पानेवाले कर्णको युद्धके लिये आज्ञा दे दीजिये। वह सुहृदों और बान्धवोंसहित कुन्तीपुत्रोंको अवश्य जीत लेगा”
anujānīhi samare karṇam āhavaśobhinam | sa jeṣyati raṇe pārthān sasuhr̥dgaṇabāndhavān ||
Karna said: “Grant me leave to fight—me, Karna, who shines in the press of battle. In this war he will surely defeat the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas), together with their friends and kinsmen.” In ethical tone, Karna frames his request as a demand for rightful permission and recognition, asserting his martial duty and confidence while implicitly challenging any partiality shown toward the Pāṇḍavas.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of seeking legitimate authorization before action and the centrality of honor and recognition in kṣatriya conduct; it also hints at the moral tension of perceived favoritism in war leadership.
Karna, speaking to his superior/commander, requests formal permission to enter the battle and declares with certainty that he will defeat the Pāṇḍavas along with their supporting friends and relatives.