Shloka 34
भीष्म उवाच न चेच्छक्यमवस्त्रष्टं वैरमेतत् सुदारुणम् । अनुजानामि कर्ण त्वां युद्धयस्व स्वर्गकाम्यया,भीष्मने कहा--कर्ण! यदि यह भयंकर वैर अब नहीं छोड़ा जा सकता तो मैं तुम्हें आज्ञा देता हूँ, तुम स्वर्गप्राप्तिकी इच्छासे युद्ध करो
bhīṣma uvāca na cec chakyaṃ avastrāṣṭuṃ vairam etat sudāruṇam | anujānāmi karṇa tvāṃ yudhyasva svargakāmyayā ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Karṇa, if this fierce and dreadful enmity cannot be set aside, then I grant you leave—fight, driven by the desire to attain heaven.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When reconciliation is no longer possible and a conflict has become unavoidable, a kṣatriya is urged to act according to duty with clarity of purpose—here framed as fighting with the aim of attaining the warrior’s promised heavenly reward, rather than wavering in indecision.
Bhīṣma addresses Karṇa, acknowledging that the bitter feud cannot be abandoned. He therefore formally permits Karṇa to engage in battle, directing him to fight with the motivation of winning svarga, a conventional ideal for warriors who die fulfilling their martial duty.