Shloka 20
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
फिर कर्ण अपने सारथिसे कहने लगा--'सूत! इस प्रकार मैं युद्धमें जाकर इन शत्रुओंके बढ़ते हुए प्रभावको नष्ट करते हुए आज इन्हें जीत लूँगा। मेरे मित्रोंक साथ कोई द्रोह करे, यह मुझे सहा नहीं। जो सेनाके भाग जानेपर भी साथ देता है, वही मित्र है ।। कतस््म्येतत् सत्पुरुषार्यकर्म त्यक्त्वा प्राणाननुयास्यामि भीष्मम् | सर्वान् संख्ये शत्रुसंघान् हनिष्ये हतस्तैर्वा वीरलोकं प्रपत्स्ये
tataḥ karṇaḥ svam sārathim uvāca— “sūta! evam ahaṃ raṇe gatvā śatrūṇāṃ vardhamānaṃ prabhāvaṃ nāśayiṣyāmi, adya ca etān jayiṣyāmi. mama mitreṣu yo drohaṃ karoti, tat mama na sahyam. yo hi senāyāṃ palāyitāyām api saha tiṣṭhati, sa eva mitram. kathaṃ nu etat satpuruṣāryakarma tyaktvā prāṇān anuyāsyāmi bhīṣmam? sarvān saṅkhye śatru-saṅghān haniṣye; hatais tair vā vīralokaṃ prapatsye.”
Then Karna spoke to his charioteer: “Charioteer, going into battle in this way, I will destroy the enemies’ growing influence and win over them today. I cannot endure treachery against my friends. The one who stands by you even when the army breaks and flees—he alone is a true friend. How could I abandon the noble duty of the righteous and follow Bhishma in death? I will slay all the enemy hosts in the fight; or, if slain by them, I shall attain the world of heroes.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a warrior-ethic centered on loyalty and noble conduct: true friendship is proven in crisis, betrayal of allies is intolerable, and one should uphold righteous duty even at the cost of life—seeking either victory or an honorable death.
Sanjaya reports Karna addressing his charioteer, declaring that he will enter battle to crush the enemies’ rising power. He asserts steadfast loyalty to friends, refuses to abandon noble duty, and vows either to destroy the enemy hosts or, if killed, to attain the heroic afterlife.