Shloka 102
यदि पार्थो रणे हन्यादद्य मामिह कर्हिचित् । कि करिष्यसि संग्रामे शल्य सत्यमथोच्यताम्,इसी तरह कुन्तीनन्दन धनंजयने भी अपनी दृष्टिद्वारा कर्णको परास्त कर दिया। तदनन्तर कर्णने शल्यसे मुसकराते हुए कहा--'शल्य! सच बताओ, यदि कदाचित् आज रणभूमिमें कुन्तीपुत्र अर्जुन मुझे यहाँ मार डालें तो तुम इस संग्राममें क्या करोगे?”
sañjaya uvāca | yadi pārtho raṇe hanyād adya mām iha karhicit | kiṁ kariṣyasi saṅgrāme śalya satyam athocyatām ||
“ଯଦି ପାର୍ଥ (ଅର୍ଜୁନ) ଆଜି ରଣରେ ମୋତେ ଏଠି ବଧ କରେ, ତେବେ ଶଲ୍ୟ! ସତ୍ୟ କୁହ—ଏହି ସଙ୍ଗ୍ରାମରେ ତୁମେ କ’ଣ କରିବ?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) and clarity of intent amid crisis: Karna demands an unvarnished answer from Shalya about what he will do if Karna falls. It highlights how dharma in war includes honest counsel and steadfastness, even when outcomes are uncertain.
In the Karna Parva battle context, Karna addresses his charioteer Shalya and asks: if Arjuna were to kill him today, what would Shalya do next in the war? The question probes Shalya’s loyalty and reaction, and also reflects the looming possibility of Karna’s defeat.