Shloka 29
सो5हमिन्द्राय दास्यामि कुण्डले सह वर्मणा । यदि मां बलवृत्रघ्नो भिक्षार्थमुपयास्यति,ऐसी स्थितिमें यदि बलासुर और वृत्रासुरके विनाशक देवराज इन्द्र मेरे पास भिक्षाके लिये पधारेंगे तो मैं कवचसहित दोनों कुण्डल उन्हें अवश्य दे दूँगा
so ’ham indrāya dāsyāmi kuṇḍale saha varmaṇā | yadi māṃ balavṛtraghno bhikṣārtham upayāsyati ||
Karna declares: “I will give these two earrings, along with my armor, to Indra—if that mighty slayer of Bala and Vṛtra should come to me seeking alms.” In this vow, Karna frames his generosity as an uncompromising ethical commitment to dāna (gift-giving), even when the request comes from a powerful deity and even when the gift would endanger his own life and prospects in the coming conflict.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharma of dāna: a giver’s integrity is tested when the gift is costly. Karna presents generosity and keeping one’s vow as higher than self-preservation, even when the request is strategically motivated.
Karna states his resolve that if Indra—renowned as the slayer of Bala and Vṛtra—approaches him as a supplicant, he will donate his divine earrings and protective armor. This foreshadows Karna’s vulnerability in the impending war after relinquishing his natural protections.