Shloka 24
अवकीरणर्णस्त्वहं कुन्त्या सूतेन च विवर्धित: । (पुरा दुर्योधनेनाहं स्नेहं वै कृतवान् मुदा । तव कार्य करिष्यामि यद् यत् सर्व दुरासदम् ।।
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 ||
Wika ni Karna: “Itinakwil ako ni Kunti at pinalaki hanggang sa magbinata ng isang tagapagpatakbo ng karwahe. Matagal ko nang iningatan ang pag-ibig at pagkakampi kay Duryodhana at namuhay akong masaya sa kanyang piling. Kay Suyodhana ay nangako ako: ‘Anumang gawain mo na mahirap—kahit tila di maaabot—akin itong tutuparin.’ Matapos kong tamasahin ang pabor at kasaganaan ni Duryodhana, hindi ko kayang gawing kasinungalingan ang pangakong iyon.”
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.