Mahabharata 3.91.20 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 91, Shloka 20
Brahmaṇānāṃ Yācanā—Tīrtha-yātrā-prastāvaḥ
The Brahmanas’ Petition and the Proposal of Pilgrimage
अहं च कर्ण जानामि यथावद् भरतर्षभ | सत्यसंधं महोत्साहं महावीर्य महाबलम्,“भरतश्रेष्ठ! मैं कर्णको अच्छी तरह जानता हूँ। वह सत्यप्रतिज्ञ, अत्यन्त उत्साही, महापराक्रमी और महाबली है
ahaṃ ca karṇa jānāmi yathāvad bharatarṣabha | satyasaṃdhaṃ mahotsāhaṃ mahāvīrya mahābalam ||
ഭരതശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! ഞാനും കര്ണനെ യഥാർത്ഥമായി അറിയുന്നു—അവൻ സത്യവ്രതൻ, മഹോത്സാഹി, മഹാവീര്യനും മഹാബലനും ആകുന്നു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal central to dharma: satyasaṃdha—being bound to truth and to one’s pledged word. It suggests that moral reliability (keeping vows) is a defining virtue, especially when paired with great power, because such a person’s commitments shape outcomes for many.
Vaiśaṃpāyana offers a character assessment of Karṇa to the listener addressed as bharatarṣabha, emphasizing that Karṇa is known for unwavering truthfulness and formidable martial qualities. The statement functions as a narrative framing that prepares the audience to understand Karṇa’s later choices and their weight.
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