Shloka 38
प्राप्स्यामि परमं लोके यश: स्वर्ग्यमनुत्तमम् | जीवितेनापि मे रक्ष्या कीर्तिस्तद् विद्धि मे व्रचम्,संग्राममें भयभीत होकर प्राणोंकी भीख माँगनेवाले सैनिकोंको अभय देकर तथा बालक, वृद्ध और ब्राह्मणोंको महान् भयसे छुड़ाकर संसारमें परम उत्तम स्वर्गीय यशका उपार्जन करूँगा। मुझे प्राण देकर भी अपनी कीर्ति सुरक्षित रखनी है। यही मेरा व्रत समझें
prāpsyāmi paramaṁ loke yaśaḥ svargyam anuttamam | jīvitena api me rakṣyā kīrtis tad viddhi me vratam | saṅgrāme bhayabhīto 'haṁ prāṇabhikṣāṁ yācate yodhān abhayam dāsyāmi | bāla-vṛddha-brāhmaṇān mahato bhayāt mocayiṣyāmi ||
Karna declara: “Neste mundo alcançarei a fama suprema, sem par, a fama celeste que conduz ao céu. Mesmo ao preço da minha vida, devo resguardar o meu nome — sabei que este é o meu voto. Por isso, na batalha concederei destemor aos soldados aterrados que suplicam pela vida e salvarei crianças, velhos e brâmanes de grande perigo.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames true martial honor as dharma-based restraint: granting safety to those who surrender in fear and protecting non-combatants (children, elders, Brahmins). He values kīrti (ethical reputation) so highly that he is willing to risk life to preserve it.
Karna is speaking a personal resolve (vrata), declaring how he intends to act in the coming conflict: he will not exploit the terrified or helpless, but will offer protection and thereby gain the highest, heaven-worthy fame.