Shloka 125
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
त्वयि मद्रेश राज्याशा जीविताशा तथैव च । विजयश्न तथैवाद्य कर्णसाचिव्यकारित:
tvayi madreśa rājya-āśā jīvita-āśā tathaiva ca | vijaya-āśā tathaivādya karṇa-sācivya-kāritaḥ, madra-rāja |
“Wahai raja Madra, pada dirimulah terletak harapanku untuk memperoleh kerajaan, bahkan harapanku untuk terus hidup. Dan hari ini, kerana engkau telah memegang tugas sebagai sais Karṇa, harapan kemenangan juga bergantung padamu—semoga kemenangan itu disempurnakan melalui sokonganmu yang teguh.”
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outcomes in war and politics hinge not only on personal valor but also on dependable support roles—counsel, alliance, and especially the charioteer’s steadiness. Ethically, it underscores responsibility: when others place their life-and-kingdom hopes in you, your conduct and loyalty carry grave consequences.
The speaker addresses the king of Madra (Śalya), emphasizing that his own survival, claim to rule, and the day’s victory depend on Śalya—because Śalya has taken up the crucial duty of serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, a role that can decisively influence the battle’s result.