Shloka 18
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
जो किसीके द्वारा अच्छी तरह पालित-पोषित होकर कृतार्थ होते हैं; परंतु उस उपकारका बदला चुकाने-योग्य समय आनेपर जो अस्थिरचित्त पापात्मा पुरुष पूर्वकृत उपकारोंको न देखकर बदल जाते हैं
dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāṇām arthe yotsyāmi te sutaiḥ | balaṃ ca śaktiṃ cāsthāya na vai tvayy anṛtaṃ vade ||
カルナは言った。「よく養われて身を立てながら、恩に報いるべき時が来ると、心定まらぬ罪深き者は、かつて受けた恩を顧みずに翻り去る。かかる者は主の糧を奪う者であり、恩ある王に対する罪人である。そのような悪行の忘恩の徒には、この世の安楽も来世の善き果報もない。持国の子らのために、私は我が力と威力の限りを尽くして、汝の子らと必ず戦う。汝に偽りは申さぬ。」
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage upholds gratitude and loyalty as ethical duties: one who abandons a benefactor when repayment is due is condemned as ungrateful and sinful, while Karna presents his own stance as steadfast repayment and truthfulness.
Karna declares to his interlocutor (addressing the father of the Pāṇḍavas in context) that he will fight the Pāṇḍavas for the sake of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, asserting that he is speaking truth and will act according to his strength and power.