Shloka 5
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
सदा कृतज्ञे द्विजशत्रुधातके सनातन चन्द्रमसीव लक्ष्म । स चेत् प्रशान्तः परवीरहन्ता मनन््ये हतानेव च सर्ववीरान्,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
sadā kṛtajñe dvijaśatrughātake sanātana-candramasīva lakṣmā | sa cet praśāntaḥ paravīra-hantā manye hatān eva ca sarva-vīrān ||
Karna said: “In Bhishma—ever grateful for benefits received, a slayer of the foes of the Brahmins, and ever radiant with an ancient splendor like the moon—there abide all the heroic virtues and the glory of divine weapons. If that Devavrata, the killer of enemy champions, has now become forever pacified (withdrawn from battle), then I deem all warriors as good as slain.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates two ethical ideals in a warrior-leader: kṛtajñatā (gratitude and loyalty to received help) and the duty to protect the righteous—here framed as safeguarding Brahmins. It also shows how the moral and strategic weight of a single dharmic champion can uphold an entire side in war.
Karna reflects on Bhishma/Devavrata’s greatness and implies that if Bhishma has become ‘praśānta’—i.e., withdrawn or stilled from combat—then the Kaurava cause is effectively doomed, as though all their warriors were already slain.