Shloka 18
(कर्णस्तु बुबुधे राजन् स्वप्रान्ते प्रवदन्निव । प्रतिबुद्धस्तु राधेय: स्वप्न॑ संचिन्त्य भारत ।। चकार निश्चयं राजन् शक्त्यर्थ वदतां वर: । यदि मामिन्द्र आयाति कुण्डलार्थ परंतप: ।। शक््त्या तस्मै प्रदास्यामि कुण्डले वर्म चैव ह । स कृत्वा प्रातरुत्थाय कार्याणि भरतर्षभ ।। ब्राह्मणान् वाचयित्वाथ यथाकार्यमुपाक्रमत् | विधिना राजशार्दूल मुहूर्तमजपत् ततः ।।) राजन! स्वप्नके अन्तमें कुछ बोलता हुआ-सा कर्ण जाग उठा। भारत! जगनेपर वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ राधानन्दन कर्णने स्वप्नका चिन्तन करके शक्तिके लिये इस प्रकार निश्चय किया, “यदि शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले इन्द्र कुण्डलके लिये मेरे पास आ रहे हैं तो मैं शक्ति लेकर ही उन्हें कुण्डल और कवच दूँगा।' भरतश्रेष्ठ! ऐसा निश्चय करके कर्ण प्रातःकाल उठा और आवश्यक कार्य करके ब्राह्मणोंसे स्वस्तिवाचन कराकर यथासमय संध्योपासन आदि कार्य करने लगा। नृपश्रेष्ठ] फिर उसने विधिपूर्वक दो घड़ीतक जप किया ।। ततः सूर्याय जप्यान्ते कर्ण: स्वप्न न्यवेदयत्,तदनन्तर जपके अनन््तमें कर्णने भगवान् सूर्यसे स्वप्नका वृत्तान्त निवेदन किया। उसने जो कुछ देखा था तथा रातमें उन दोनोंमें जैसी बातें हुई थीं, उन सबको कर्णने क्रमश: उनसे ठीक-ठीक कह सुनाया
karṇas tu bubudhe rājan svaprānte pravadann iva | pratibuddhas tu rādheyaḥ svapnaṃ saṃcintya bhārata || cakāra niścayaṃ rājan śakty-arthaṃ vadatāṃ varaḥ | yadi mām indra āyāti kuṇḍalārthaṃ parantapaḥ || śaktyā tasmai pradāsyāmi kuṇḍale varma caiva ha | sa kṛtvā prātar utthāya kāryāṇi bharatarṣabha || brāhmaṇān vācayitvātha yathākāryam upākramat | vidhinā rājaśārdūla muhūrtam ajapat tataḥ || tataḥ sūryāya japyānte karṇaḥ svapnaṃ nyavedayat |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O King, Karṇa awoke as though speaking at the end of a dream. When he had fully roused himself, Rādheya—foremost among speakers—reflected on the dream and formed a resolve concerning the Śakti: ‘If Indra, tormentor of foes, comes to me seeking my earrings, then only after securing the Śakti will I give him the earrings and the armor.’ Having made this decision, O bull among the Bharatas, Karṇa rose at dawn, completed his necessary duties, had the brāhmaṇas recite auspicious benedictions, and began his rites at the proper time. Then, O tiger among kings, he performed japa according to rule for a muhūrta; and at the end of his recitation to Sūrya, Karṇa reported the dream to the Sun.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the tension between generosity and prudence: Karṇa remains willing to give away even his protective gifts, yet he resolves to safeguard a necessary means of defense (the Śakti) before surrendering them. It also underscores disciplined devotion—ritual duty and prayer—as a framework for ethical decision-making amid impending conflict.
Karṇa wakes from a significant dream, reflects on it, and decides that if Indra comes seeking his earrings and armor, he will first secure the Śakti and only then give the requested gifts. After morning duties and auspicious recitations, he performs regulated japa and then reports the dream’s details to Sūrya.