Shloka 7
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 2: Karṇa’s lament, vow, and battle preparation after Bhīṣma’s fall
वसुप्रभावे वसुवीर्यसम्भवे गते वसूनेव वसुन्धराधिपे । वसूनि पुत्रांश्व वसुन्धरां तथा कुरूंश्व॒ शोचध्वमिमां च वाहिनीम्,भीष्मजीमें वसु देवताओंके समान प्रभाव था। वसुओंके समान शक्तिशाली महाराज शान्तनुसे उनकी उत्पत्ति हुई थी। ये वसुधाके स्वामी भीष्म अब वसु देवताओंको ही प्राप्त हो गये हैं; अतः उनके अभावमें तुम सभी लोग अपने धन, पुत्र, वसुन्धरा, कुरुवंश, कुरुदेशकी प्रजा तथा इस कौरव-सेनाके लिये शोक करो
vasuprabhāve vasuvīryasambhave gate vasūneva vasundharādhipe | vasūni putrāṁś ca vasundharāṁ tathā kurūṁś ca śocadhvam imāṁ ca vāhinīm ||
Karna said: “He whose splendor was like that of the Vasus, whose prowess matched the Vasus, and who was born from King Śāntanu—now that lord of the earth has gone to the Vasus themselves. Therefore, bereft of Bhīṣma, grieve—for your wealth, for your sons, for the land, for the Kurus and their realm, and for this very army.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores impermanence and the fragility of worldly supports: when a pillar-like protector (Bhīṣma) departs, attachment to wealth, heirs, territory, and military power is exposed as vulnerable. It also highlights the ethical weight of leadership in war—how the fall of a righteous elder destabilizes morale and the perceived legitimacy of a cause.
In the Drona Parva, after Bhīṣma is no longer present as the Kauravas’ foremost guardian, Karṇa addresses the Kaurava side, emphasizing Bhīṣma’s divine-like stature (likened to the Vasus) and declaring that he has ‘gone to the Vasus.’ Karṇa then urges them to mourn the loss and recognize the magnitude of what has been taken from their side—protector, prestige, and security.