Shloka 10
इदं त्वमनुजानीहि सुरश्रेष्ठ ब्रतं मम । भिक्षते वज्िणे दद्यामपि जीवितमात्मन:,सुरश्रेष्ठ! यह जो मेरा दान देनेका व्रत है, उसके लिये आप भी मुझे आज्ञा दीजिये, जिससे मैं याचक बनकर आये हुए इन्द्रको अपने प्राणतक दे सकूँ
idaṃ tvam anujānīhi suraśreṣṭha vrataṃ mama | bhikṣate vajriṇe dadyām api jīvitam ātmanaḥ ||
कर्ण म्हणाला—हे सुरश्रेष्ठ! माझ्या या व्रतास अनुमती द्या. वज्रधारी इंद्र याचक होऊन आला, तर मी माझे प्राणही त्याला देईन.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna-dharma as a vow-like ethical identity: true generosity is tested when giving becomes personally costly. Karna presents steadfast giving—without calculating advantage—as a form of honor and moral consistency.
Karna addresses Indra (called Suraśreṣṭha and Vajrin), asking him to sanction Karna’s charitable vow. He declares that if Indra approaches in the guise of a beggar, Karna is prepared to give even his own life—foreshadowing Indra’s attempt to obtain Karna’s protective boon (his natural armor/earrings) before the Kurukṣetra war.