Shloka 26
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
“कर्ण! दैव बड़ा बलवान है। तुम जैसा कहते हो वैसा ही हो। इस युद्धके द्वारा कौरवोंका संहार होगा ।। त्वया चतुर्णा भ्रातृणामभयं शत्रुकर्शन । दत्त तत् प्रतिजानीहि संगरप्रतिमोचनम्
Karṇa uvāca: “Karṇa! daivaṃ baḍā balavān hai. tuma jaisā kahate ho vaisā hī ho. isa yuddhake dvārā kauravōṃkā saṃhāra hogā. tvayā caturṇāṃ bhrātṝṇām abhayaṃ śatrukarṣaṇa dattaṃ tat pratijānīhi saṅgarapratimocanam.”
କର୍ଣ୍ଣ କହିଲେ—“ଦୈବ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବଳବାନ; ତୁମେ ଯେପରି କହୁଛ, ସେପରି ହେଉ। ଏହି ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଦ୍ୱାରା କୌରବମାନଙ୍କର ବିନାଶ ହେବ। ହେ ଶତ୍ରୁକର୍ଷଣ! ତୁମେ ଚାରି ଭ୍ରାତାଙ୍କୁ ଅଭୟ ଦେଇଛ; ତେଣୁ ସେହି ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞାରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ରୁହ, ରଣସଙ୍କଟରୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କର।”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between human resolve and overpowering destiny (daiva), while ethically emphasizing fidelity to one’s pledged word—especially a promise of protection or restraint in war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war exchanges, Karna speaks in a context where the coming war is seen as fated to destroy the Kauravas, and he is reminded to uphold a prior assurance of safety given to ‘the four brothers’—to keep his vow and not violate that grant of fearlessness in battle.