Shloka 35
सो<हं शरीरजे दत्त्वा कीर्ति प्राप्स्पामि शाश्वतीम् | दत्त्वा च विधिवद् दान ब्राह्म॒णेभ्यो यथाविधि,अतः मैं अपने शरीरके साथ उत्पन्न हुए कवच-कुण्डल इन्द्रको देकर सनातन कीर्ति प्राप्त करूँगा। ब्राह्मणोंको विधिपूर्वक दान देकर, अत्यन्त दुष्कर पराक्रम करके समराम्निमें शरीरकी आहुति देकर तथा शत्रुओंको संग्राममें जीतकर मैं केवल सुयशका उपार्जन करूँगा
so ’haṁ śarīraje dattvā kīrtiṁ prāpsyāmi śāśvatīm | dattvā ca vidhivad dānaṁ brāhmaṇebhyo yathāvidhi ||
Karna said: “Thus I shall give away the armor and earrings that were born with my very body, even to Indra, and by that gift I will attain imperishable fame. And having also bestowed gifts upon the Brahmins in the proper manner, I will win only noble renown—by undertaking deeds of the hardest valor, by offering my body as an oblation in the fire of battle, and by conquering my enemies in war.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates dāna (generous giving) performed with vidhivat propriety as a path to śāśvatī kīrti (lasting moral fame). Karna frames honor not as mere victory but as ethical reputation earned through rightful charity, courage, and willingness to sacrifice oneself for one’s chosen duty.
Karna declares his resolve to give away his innate protective armor and earrings—even to Indra—and to continue giving proper gifts to Brahmins. He anticipates that through such giving and through extreme valor in war, even to the point of offering his body in battle, he will secure noble renown by defeating enemies and upholding his warrior code.