Shloka 23
Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)
अनुजानीहि मां राजन् ध्रुवो हि विजयस्तव । प्रतिजानामि ते सत्यं राजन्नायुधभालभे,राजन! मुझे आज्ञा दो। तुम्हारी विजय निश्चित है। यह मैं तुमसे प्रतिज्ञापूर्वक सत्य कहता हूँ और शस्त्र छूकर शपथ करता हूँ
anujānīhi māṁ rājan dhruvo hi vijayas tava | pratijānāmi te satyaṁ rājann āyudha-bhālabhe ||
Karna berkata: “Izinkan aku, wahai Raja; kemenanganmu sungguh pasti. Aku berikrar kepadamu dengan sebenar-benarnya, wahai Raja, dan aku bersumpah atas senjataku.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of a warrior’s spoken pledge: assurance is not merely rhetoric but is sealed through an oath, invoking personal honor and accountability in the context of royal duty and war.
Karna addresses a king, asks for permission to proceed, and strengthens the king’s confidence by promising certain victory, formalizing his commitment by swearing upon his weapons.