Shloka 37
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
इदं तु मे यथाप्राज्ञं शृणु वाक्यं विशाम्पते । अनिहत्य रणे पार्थ नाहमेष्यामि भारत,प्रजानाथ! भरतनन्दन! मैं अपनी बुद्धिके अनुसार निश्चय करके यह जो बात कह रहा हूँ, उसे ध्यान देकर सुनो। आज मैं रणभूमिमें अर्जुनका वध किये बिना नहीं लौटूँगा
idaṃ tu me yathāprājñaṃ śṛṇu vākyaṃ viśāmpate | anihatya raṇe pārtha nāham eṣyāmi bhārata ||
Karna berkata: “Wahai tuan bagi rakyat, dengarlah dengan penuh perhatian kata-kata yang kuucapkan menurut pertimbanganku yang terbaik. Wahai Bhārata, selagi aku belum menewaskan Pārtha (Arjuna) di medan perang, aku tidak akan kembali.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of unwavering resolve: Karna frames his intention as a binding commitment—he will not withdraw from the battlefield without achieving his declared objective. It illustrates how vows and honor function as moral imperatives within kṣatriya dharma, even when they intensify conflict.
In the Karṇa Parva, Karna addresses his royal ally (the ‘lord of the people’) and declares that he will not return unless he kills Pārtha (Arjuna) in battle. The line underscores the escalating duel-focus of the war and Karna’s determination to settle his rivalry with Arjuna decisively.