Shloka 20
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
न च ते5यं समारम्भो मयि मोघो भविष्यति । वध्यान् विषदह्ाान् संग्रामे न हनिष्यामि ते सुतान्
na ca te 'yaṃ samārambho mayi mogho bhaviṣyati | vadhyān viṣadagdḥān saṅgrāme na haniṣyāmi te sutān |
そなたが苦労して我がもとへ来たその企ては、決して無駄にはならぬ。たとえ戦場において、そなたの子らが我が手中に落ち、討つに足る状態にあろうとも、我は彼らを殺さぬ。我が真の戦いはアルジュナただ一人に向けられる。ほかの者——ユディシュティラ、ビーマ、ナクラ、サハデーヴァ——は助けよう。かくして我はそなたの労を認め、戦のただ中にあっても自らを誓いで縛り、勝利がさらなる暴力を許すときでさえ、その限界を定める。
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous war, ethical restraint can be chosen: Karṇa limits his violence by vowing not to kill Kuntī’s sons other than Arjuna, showing that personal vows and familial obligations can shape conduct amid conflict.
Kuntī approaches Karṇa before the Kurukṣetra war and appeals to him as her son. Karṇa refuses to abandon his allegiance, but he assures her that her effort will not be wasted: he will fight Arjuna, yet spare Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva even if he gains the chance to kill them.