Shloka 124
“नरश्रेष्ठ! पार्थ! आज तुम अपनी प्रतिज्ञाके अनुसार तीखे बाणोंसे कर्णका वध करके उज्ज्वल कीर्ति प्राप्त करो ।।
sañjaya uvāca | naraśreṣṭha pārtha adya tvaṃ svapratijñānusāreṇa tīkṣṇabāṇaiḥ karṇavadhaṃ kṛtvā ujjvalāṃ kīrtiṃ prāpnuhi | tvaṃ hi śakto raṇe jetuṃ sa-karṇān api kauravān | nānyo yudhi yudhāṃśreṣṭha satyam etad bravīmi te ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “O pinakadakila sa mga tao, O Pārtha! Ngayon, ayon sa iyong panata, patayin mo si Karna sa pamamagitan ng iyong matatalim na palaso at kamtin ang maningning na karangalan. Sapagkat ikaw lamang ang may kakayahang, sa digmaan, daigin ang buong Kaurava kahit kasama pa nila si Karna. Walang ibang mandirigma ang makagagawa nito, O pinakamahusay sa mga manlalaban—ito ang katotohanang sinasabi ko sa iyo.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma expressed through fidelity to one’s pratijñā (vow): ethical resolve must be carried through decisively in a righteous cause. It also frames fame (kīrti) as the social-ethical fruit of steadfast duty performed without wavering at a critical moment.
Sanjaya addresses Arjuna (Partha), urging him that the day has come to fulfill his pledge by killing Karna with sharp arrows. He asserts Arjuna’s unique capability to defeat the Kaurava host even with Karna present, strengthening Arjuna’s confidence and emphasizing the decisive nature of the confrontation.