Shloka 18
Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)
सो<हं भीष्मवचस्तद् वै न मृष्यामीह भारत | त्वत्समक्ष॑ यदुक्तं च भीष्मेणामित्रकर्षण
so ’haṃ bhīṣmavacas tad vai na mṛṣyāmīha bhārata | tvat-samakṣaṃ yad uktaṃ ca bhīṣmeṇāmitrakarṣaṇa ||
Karna berkata: “Maka, wahai Bhārata, aku tidak dapat menahan di sini kata-kata Bhīṣma—terutama apa yang diucapkannya di hadapanmu sendiri, wahai penunduk musuh.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech and reputation: public criticism, especially from an elder authority like Bhīṣma, can provoke resentment when honor is central to one’s identity. It implicitly warns that harsh words spoken openly can fracture alliances and inflame conflict.
Karna addresses a Bharata prince (commonly understood as Duryodhana), declaring that he cannot bear Bhīṣma’s remarks—particularly those spoken directly in the prince’s presence. The line conveys Karna’s sense of humiliation and the growing tension between key Kaurava leaders.