अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
कण्णार्जुनाभ्यां सम्प्राप्ते द्वैरथे राजसत्तम । कर्णस्य भवता कार्य सारथ्यं नात्र संशय:
karṇārjunābhyāṃ samprāpte dvairathe rājasattama | karṇasya bhavatā kāryaṃ sārathyaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ ||
ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਰਾਜਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ! ਜਦੋਂ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦਾ ਦ੍ਵੈਰਥ ਯੁੱਧ ਆਵੇ, ਤਦ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਥੀ ਬਣਨਾ ਹੀ ਪਵੇਗਾ—ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਸੰਦੇਹ ਨਹੀਂ।
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse emphasizes decisive performance of one’s assigned role in a righteous conflict: when a critical confrontation arises, duty (kārya) must be carried out without hesitation, and leadership requires clear, unambiguous instruction.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a king (rājasattama) and states that when the pivotal chariot-duel between Karṇa and Arjuna takes place, the addressee must act as Karṇa’s charioteer, presenting it as a settled requirement rather than a negotiable choice.