Shloka 22
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
अर्जुन हि निहत्याजौ सम्प्राप्तं स्थात् फलं मया | यशसा चापि युज्येयं निहतः सव्यसाचिना,अर्जुनको युद्धमें मार देनेपर मुझे संग्रामका फल प्राप्त हो जायगा अथवा स्वयं ही सव्यसाची अर्जुनके हाथसे मारा जाकर मैं यशका भागी बनूँगा
arjuna hi nihatya ājau samprāptaṃ sthāt phalaṃ mayā | yaśasā cāpi yujyeyaṃ nihataḥ savyasācinā ||
Karna disse: “Se eu matar Arjuna em batalha, o verdadeiro fruto desta guerra será meu. E se, ao contrário, eu for morto por Arjuna, o arqueiro ambidestro, ainda assim estarei unido à glória.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames the encounter with Arjuna as a twofold path to meaning: victory yields the ‘fruit’ of war, while an honorable death at the hands of a worthy opponent yields lasting fame. The verse highlights the kṣatriya valuation of honor and reputation, and a fatalistic acceptance that either outcome can be ethically ‘worthwhile’ within the warrior code.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes inevitable, Karna speaks with resolute confidence about facing Arjuna. He declares that killing Arjuna would secure the decisive reward of the conflict; but even if Arjuna kills him, Karna considers that death itself a source of renown because it comes in a great duel against the foremost archer.