Shloka 24
अवकीरणर्णस्त्वहं कुन्त्या सूतेन च विवर्धित: । (पुरा दुर्योधनेनाहं स्नेहं वै कृतवान् मुदा । तव कार्य करिष्यामि यद् यत् सर्व दुरासदम् ।। इत्येवं वै प्रतिज्ञातं वचन॑ वै सुयोधने ।) भुक््त्वा दुर्योधनैश्वर्य न मिथ्याकर्तुमुत्सहे,परंतु माता कुन्तीने तो मुझे पानीमें बहा दिया और सूतने मुझे पाल-पोषकर बड़ा किया। पूर्वकालसे ही मैं दुर्योधनके साथ स्नेह करता आया हूँ और प्रसन्नतापूर्वक रहा हूँ। दुर्योधनसे मैंने यह प्रतिज्ञा कर ली है कि तुम्हारा जो-जो दुष्कर कार्य होगा, वह सब मैं पूरा करूँगा। दुर्योधनका ऐश्वर्य भोगकर मैं उसे निष्फल नहीं कर सकता
avakīrṇarṇas tv ahaṁ kuntyā sūtena ca vivardhitaḥ | purā duryodhanenāhaṁ snehaṁ vai kṛtavān mudā | tava kārya kariṣyāmi yad yat sarvaṁ durāsadam || ityevaṁ vai pratijñātaṁ vacanaṁ vai suyodhane | bhuktvā duryodhanaiśvaryaṁ na mithyākartum utsahe ||
Karna disse: «Lançado fora por Kunti e criado até a idade adulta por um cocheiro, há muito nutro afeição por Duryodhana e vivi em alegre companhia com ele. A Suyodhana empenhei estas palavras: “Qualquer tarefa tua que seja difícil—por mais inalcançável que pareça—eu a cumprirei.” Tendo desfrutado do favor régio e da prosperidade de Duryodhana, não tenho ânimo para tornar falsa essa promessa.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of a pledged word (pratijñā) and the pull of gratitude and loyalty. Karna frames his commitment to Duryodhana as a moral constraint: having accepted patronage and friendship, he feels bound not to invalidate his promise, even when higher claims (birth, kinship, broader dharma) press upon him.
Karna explains his life situation—abandoned by Kunti and raised by a sūta—and justifies why he will stand with Duryodhana. He recalls his prior pledge to accomplish Duryodhana’s hardest tasks and declares he cannot now make that pledge false after enjoying Duryodhana’s royal favor.