Shloka 30
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
प्रयाहि सूताशु यत: किरीटी वृकोदरो धर्मसुतो यमौ च । तान् वा हनिष्यामि समेत्य संख्ये भीष्माय गच्छामि हतो द्विषद्धिः,'सूत! यह सब कार्य करके तुम शीघ्र ही रथ लेकर उस स्थानपर चलो, जहाँ किरीटधारी अर्जुन, भीमसेन, धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर तथा नकुल-सहदेव खड़े हैं। वहाँ युद्धस्थलमें उनसे भिड़कर या तो उन्हींको मार डालूँगा या स्वयं ही शत्रुओंके हाथसे मारा जाकर भीष्मके पास चला जाऊँगा
sañjaya uvāca | prayāhi sūtāśu yataḥ kirīṭī vṛkodaro dharmasuto yamau ca | tān vā haniṣyāmi sametya saṅkhye bhīṣmāya gacchāmi hato dviṣadbhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O charioteer, go at once—drive the chariot to where Arjuna the diadem-wearer stands, along with Bhīma, Yudhiṣṭhira the son of Dharma, and the twin brothers. Meeting them in battle, I shall either strike them down, or else, slain by my foes, I will go to Bhīṣma.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethos of decisive action and acceptance of consequences: one must act with resolve in one’s appointed duty (battle), prepared either for victory or for death, and oriented toward loyalty and honor within the martial code.
A commander issues urgent orders to his charioteer to drive toward the key Pāṇḍava warriors—Arjuna, Bhīma, Yudhiṣṭhira, and the twins—declaring his intention to engage them directly, either killing them or dying and thereby reaching Bhīṣma.