Shloka 483
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
नाहं भीषयितुं शक््य: क्षत्रवृत्ते व्यवस्थित: । तुम धूपसे संतप्त हुए हरिणके समान चाहे विलाप करो चाहे सूख जाओ क्षत्रियधर्ममें स्थित हुए मुझ कर्णको तुम डरा नहीं सकते
nāhaṃ bhīṣayituṃ śakyaḥ kṣatravṛtte vyavasthitaḥ |
Karna said: “I cannot be frightened. Firmly established in the warrior’s code of conduct, I am not one to be intimidated.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in one’s svadharma: Karna frames fearlessness as a consequence of being firmly grounded in kṣatriya-vṛtti—honor, duty, and resolve in battle.
In the midst of the Karṇa Parva battle exchanges, Karna responds defiantly, declaring that threats or attempts to intimidate him will not succeed because he stands committed to the warrior’s code.