Shloka 22
यथाद्य समरे कर्ण हनिष्यामि हतो5पि वा । महीतले पतिष्यामि सत्येनायुधमालभे
sañjaya uvāca | yathādya samare karṇa haniṣyāmi hato 'pi vā | mahītale patiṣyāmi satyenāyudham ālabhe ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “(Ipinahayag ni Arjuna,) ‘Kahit ako man ay mapatay, gayon ang mangyayari: ngayong araw sa labanan, papatayin ko si Karṇa; o kung hindi, kapag ako’y napabagsak, babagsak ako sa lupa. Sa ngalan ng katotohanan, hinahawakan ko ang aking sandata (hinipo ang aking busog bilang taimtim na panata).’”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights satya (truth) as a binding moral force: a warrior’s pledge, sealed by invoking truth and touching the weapon, must be upheld even at the cost of one’s life. It frames martial action within ethical accountability—resolve is not mere anger, but a vowed commitment.
Sañjaya reports Arjuna’s solemn declaration on the battlefield: on that very day he will either slay Karṇa or be slain and fall to the earth. The statement is cast as an oath, ritually reinforced by invoking truth and grasping/touching his weapon (bow).