Shloka 8
भीष्म-पर्व अध्याय १०० — त्रिगर्त-आक्रमण, भीष्म-केन्द्रित पुनर्संयोजन, तथा शक्त्यस्त्र-विनिमय
निवत्ते युधि गाड़ेये न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भारत
nivṛtte yudhi gāḍhe ye nyastaśastre ca bhārata | bharatavaṃśī nareśa! yadā yuddhe gaṅgānandano bhīṣmaḥ śastrāṇi nikṣepsyati sarvathā ca nivartsyate, tadāhaṃ yuddhe bhīṣmasya paśyataḥ somakaiḥ saha sarvān kuntīputrān yugapat ghātayiṣyāmi—iti te satyasya śapathena bravīmi |
Karna disse: “Ó Bharata, ó rei da linhagem dos Bharatas! Quando, no auge da batalha, Bhishma —filho do Ganga— depuser as armas e se retirar por completo, então, com Bhishma a assistir no campo, abaterei de uma só vez todos os filhos de Kunti, juntamente com os Somakas. Isto te declaro, jurando pela verdade.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vows and appeals to truth (satya) can be used to intensify commitment in war, while also exposing an ethical tension: Karna frames his promised slaughter as contingent on Bhishma’s withdrawal, revealing how personal honor, rivalry, and strategic opportunity can override broader ideals of restraint and dharma.
Karna addresses the Kuru king (Duryodhana implied) and declares that once Bhishma withdraws from fighting and lays down his weapons, Karna will, in Bhishma’s very sight, kill the sons of Kunti together with the Somakas—swearing this as a solemn oath by truth.