Shloka 24
अवकीरणर्णस्त्वहं कुन्त्या सूतेन च विवर्धित: । (पुरा दुर्योधनेनाहं स्नेहं वै कृतवान् मुदा । तव कार्य करिष्यामि यद् यत् सर्व दुरासदम् ।।
avakīrṇarṇas tv ahaṁ kuntyā sūtena ca vivardhitaḥ | purā duryodhanenāhaṁ snehaṁ vai kṛtavān mudā | tava kārya kariṣyāmi yad yat sarvaṁ durāsadam || ityevaṁ vai pratijñātaṁ vacanaṁ vai suyodhane | bhuktvā duryodhanaiśvaryaṁ na mithyākartum utsahe ||
カルナは言った。「クンティーに捨てられ、のちに御者に育てられて成人したわたしは、久しくドゥルヨーダナに情を寄せ、喜びのうちに彼と交わってきた。スヨーダナに、わたしはこう誓ったのだ――『そなたの務めがいかに困難であろうと、たとえ到達しがたく見えようと、わたしが成し遂げる』と。ドゥルヨーダナの王の恩寵と栄華を受けておきながら、その誓いを虚しくすることなど、わたしの心は許さぬ。」
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of a pledged word (pratijñā) and the pull of gratitude and loyalty. Karna frames his commitment to Duryodhana as a moral constraint: having accepted patronage and friendship, he feels bound not to invalidate his promise, even when higher claims (birth, kinship, broader dharma) press upon him.
Karna explains his life situation—abandoned by Kunti and raised by a sūta—and justifies why he will stand with Duryodhana. He recalls his prior pledge to accomplish Duryodhana’s hardest tasks and declares he cannot now make that pledge false after enjoying Duryodhana’s royal favor.