Shloka 6
कर्णपर्व — द्विचक्रिकी युद्धपरिस्थिति: धृष्टद्युम्न- द्रौणि-संघर्षः तथा अर्जुन-रक्षणम्
Chapter 42
नहि कर्ण: समुद्धूतो भयार्थमिह मद्रक । विक्रमार्थमहं जातो यशो<र्थ च तथा55त्मन:,“मद्रनिवासी शल्य! कर्ण इस संसारमें भयभीत होनेके लिये नहीं पैदा हुआ है। मैं तो पराक्रम प्रकट करने और अपने यशको फैलानेके लिये ही उत्पन्न हुआ हूँ
na hi karṇaḥ samuddhūto bhayārtham iha mādraka | vikramārtham ahaṃ jāto yaśo'rthaṃ ca tathātmanaḥ ||
नहि कर्णः समुद्धूतो भयार्थमिह माद्रक । विक्रमार्थमहं जातो यशोऽर्थं च तथात्मनः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya’s ideal motive in battle is not fear or self-preservation but the pursuit of valor (vikrama) and honorable fame (yaśas). The verse frames courage as a chosen ethical stance: action should arise from duty and honor rather than panic.
In the Karṇa Parva war setting, Sañjaya reports a declaration addressed to Śalya (the Madra king associated with Karṇa’s chariot). The statement asserts that Karṇa is not acting out of fear; he claims he is born to demonstrate prowess and win renown, reinforcing his warrior self-image amid the Kurukṣetra conflict.