Shloka 26
कर्ण उवाच एकमेवाहमिच्छामि रिपुं हन्तुं महाहवे । गर्जन्तं प्रतपन्तं च यतो मम भयं भवेत्,कर्ण बोला--देवेन्द्र! मैं महासमरमें अपने एक ही शत्रुको इसके द्वारा मारना चाहता हूँ जो बहुत गर्जना करनेवाला और प्रतापी है, तथा जिससे मुझे सदा भय बना रहता है
Karṇa uvāca: ekam evāham icchāmi ripuṁ hantuṁ mahāhave | garjantaṁ pratapantaṁ ca yato mama bhayaṁ bhavet ||
Karna said: “In this great battle I desire to slay only one enemy—one who roars loudly and blazes with prowess, and from whom fear continually arises in me.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior’s single-pointed resolve shaped by a specific fear: even a mighty hero admits vulnerability, and that fear becomes a catalyst for focused intent in the ethics of kṣatriya conflict.
Karna declares that in the coming great battle he seeks to kill only one particular foe—described as roaring and intensely powerful—because that opponent is the source of his persistent fear.