Shloka 24
अवकीरणर्णस्त्वहं कुन्त्या सूतेन च विवर्धित: । (पुरा दुर्योधनेनाहं स्नेहं वै कृतवान् मुदा । तव कार्य करिष्यामि यद् यत् सर्व दुरासदम् ।। इत्येवं वै प्रतिज्ञातं वचन॑ वै सुयोधने ।) भुक््त्वा दुर्योधनैश्वर्य न मिथ्याकर्तुमुत्सहे,परंतु माता कुन्तीने तो मुझे पानीमें बहा दिया और सूतने मुझे पाल-पोषकर बड़ा किया। पूर्वकालसे ही मैं दुर्योधनके साथ स्नेह करता आया हूँ और प्रसन्नतापूर्वक रहा हूँ। दुर्योधनसे मैंने यह प्रतिज्ञा कर ली है कि तुम्हारा जो-जो दुष्कर कार्य होगा, वह सब मैं पूरा करूँगा। दुर्योधनका ऐश्वर्य भोगकर मैं उसे निष्फल नहीं कर सकता
avakīrṇarṇas tv ahaṁ kuntyā sūtena ca vivardhitaḥ | purā duryodhanenāhaṁ snehaṁ vai kṛtavān mudā | tava kārya kariṣyāmi yad yat sarvaṁ durāsadam || ityevaṁ vai pratijñātaṁ vacanaṁ vai suyodhane | bhuktvā duryodhanaiśvaryaṁ na mithyākartum utsahe ||
Karna said: “Cast away by Kunti and then reared to manhood by a charioteer, I have long cherished affection for Duryodhana and lived in glad companionship with him. To Suyodhana I have pledged these words: ‘Whatever task of yours is difficult—indeed, however unattainable it may seem—I will accomplish it.’ Having enjoyed Duryodhana’s royal favor and prosperity, I do not have the heart to make that promise false.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of a pledged word (pratijñā) and the pull of gratitude and loyalty. Karna frames his commitment to Duryodhana as a moral constraint: having accepted patronage and friendship, he feels bound not to invalidate his promise, even when higher claims (birth, kinship, broader dharma) press upon him.
Karna explains his life situation—abandoned by Kunti and raised by a sūta—and justifies why he will stand with Duryodhana. He recalls his prior pledge to accomplish Duryodhana’s hardest tasks and declares he cannot now make that pledge false after enjoying Duryodhana’s royal favor.