Shloka 2
नमे दारा न मे पुत्रा न चात्मा सुहदो नच | तथेष्टा वै सदा भकत्या यथा त्वं गोपते मम,स्त्री, पुत्र, सुहृद् और अपना शरीर भी मुझे वैसा प्रिय नहीं है, जैसे आप हैं। किरणोंके स्वामी सूर्यदेव! सदा आप ही मेरे भक्तिभावके आश्रय हैं
na me dārā na me putrā na cātmā suhṛdo na ca | tatheṣṭā vai sadā bhaktyā yathā tvaṃ gopate mama ||
Karna said: “Neither my wives, nor my sons, nor my own body, nor even my friends are as dear to me as you are. O Lord of the rays, Sun-god—ever are you the refuge and object of my devotion.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds bhakti and steadfast allegiance: Karna declares that devotion to his divine patron (Surya) surpasses even the strongest worldly attachments—family, friends, and bodily self-interest—suggesting an ethical ideal of unwavering commitment to one’s chosen refuge and source of strength.
Karna addresses Surya directly, expressing intimate reverence and dependence. In the Vana Parva context, this functions as a devotional utterance that characterizes Karna’s identity: he sees the Sun-god as his supreme support, above personal relationships and even his own life.