Shloka 69
मनोरथो यस्तु ममाद्य तस्य मद्रेश युद्ध प्रति पाण्डवस्य । नैतच्चिरादाशु भविष्यतीद- मत्यद्भुतं चित्रमतुल्यरूपम्
manoratho yas tu mamādya tasya madreśa yuddha prati pāṇḍavasya | naitac cirād āśu bhaviṣyatīdam atyadbhutaṃ citram atulyarūpam ||
Karna berkata: “Wahai raja Madra, hasrat yang kupendam hari ini—tentang pertempuran melawan Pāṇḍava itu—tidak akan tertangguh lama. Tidak lama lagi hal itu akan terjadi: suatu perbuatan yang menghairankan dan belum pernah ada, menakjubkan untuk disaksikan, tiada bandingan pada rupanya.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic of firm resolve (manoratha) and the moral tension of vows made in the heat of conflict: Karna frames his intent as imminent and extraordinary, underscoring how determination and pride can drive action in war, for good or ill.
Karna addresses the king of Madra (Śalya), his charioteer, declaring that his present resolve regarding combat with a Pāṇḍava will be fulfilled very soon, and that the outcome will be astonishing and unparalleled—an anticipatory proclamation before a decisive encounter.