Shloka 4
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
(सम्मृज्य दिव्यं धनुराततज्यं स रामदत्तं रिपुसंघहन्ता । बाणांश्व कालानलवायुकल्पा- नुल्लालयन् वाक्यमिदं बभाषे ।।) शत्रुसमूहका विनाश करनेवाले कर्णने परशुरामजीके दिये हुए दिव्य धनुषपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा ली और उसपर हाथ फेरकर कालाग्नि तथा वायुके समान शक्तिशाली बाणोंको ऊपर उठाते हुए इस प्रकार कहा। कर्ण उवाच यस्मिन् धृतिर्बुद्धिपराक्रमौज: सत्यं॑ स्मृतिर्वीरगुणाश्च सर्वे । अस्त्राणि दिव्यान्यथ संनतिर्हीं: प्रिया च वागनसूया च भीष्मे,कर्ण बोला--ब्राह्मणोंके शत्रुओंका विनाश करनेवाले तथा अपने ऊपर किये हुए उपकारोंका आभार माननेवाले जिन वीरशिरोमणि भीष्मजीमें चन्द्रमामें सदा सुशोभित होनेवाले शशचिह्नलके समान सदा धृति, बुद्धि, पराक्रम, ओज, सत्य, स्मृति, विनय, लज्जा, प्रिय वाणी तथा अनसूया (दोषदृष्टिका अभाव)--ये सभी वीरोचित गुण तथा दिव्यास्त्र शोभा पाते थे, वे शत्रुवीरोंके हन्ता देवव्रत यदि सदाके लिये शान्त हो गये तो मैं सम्पूर्ण वीरोंको मारा गया ही मानता हूँ
karṇa uvāca | yasmin dhṛtir buddhir parākramaujaḥ satyaṃ smṛtir vīraguṇāś ca sarve | astrāṇi divyāny atha saṃnatir hrīḥ priyā ca vāg anasūyā ca bhīṣme |
Karna said: “In Bhishma—he in whom steadfastness, intelligence, valor, vigor, truthfulness, memory, and every heroic excellence abide; in whom divine weapons shine forth, along with humility, modesty, gentle speech, and freedom from fault-finding—if that Devavrata, the slayer of enemy champions, has been stilled forever, then I regard all warriors as already slain.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of warriorhood: true strength is inseparable from inner virtues—steadfastness, discernment, truthfulness, humility, modest restraint, gentle speech, and a non-fault-finding disposition. Martial excellence (divine weapons) is portrayed as complete only when governed by character.
On the battlefield in the Drona Parva, Karna speaks about Bhishma/Devavrata, listing his exemplary qualities and implying that if such a pillar of the Kuru side has been permanently subdued, then the fate of all warriors is effectively sealed—expressing both reverence and grim foreboding.