Shloka 37
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
इदं तु मे यथाप्राज्ञं शृणु वाक्यं विशाम्पते । अनिहत्य रणे पार्थ नाहमेष्यामि भारत
idaṃ tu me yathāprājñaṃ śṛṇu vākyaṃ viśāmpate | anihatya raṇe pārtha nāham eṣyāmi bhārata ||
Wika ni Karṇa: “O panginoon ng bayan, pakinggan mong mabuti ang mga salitang ito na sinasabi ko ayon sa pinakamainam kong paghatol. O Bhārata, hangga’t hindi ko napababagsak si Pārtha (Arjuna) sa labanan, hindi ako babalik.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of unwavering resolve: Karna frames his intention as a binding commitment—he will not withdraw from the battlefield without achieving his declared objective. It illustrates how vows and honor function as moral imperatives within kṣatriya dharma, even when they intensify conflict.
In the Karṇa Parva, Karna addresses his royal ally (the ‘lord of the people’) and declares that he will not return unless he kills Pārtha (Arjuna) in battle. The line underscores the escalating duel-focus of the war and Karna’s determination to settle his rivalry with Arjuna decisively.