Shloka 99
त्वं चेत् कर्णसुतं पार्थ सूतपुत्रस्य पश्यत: । प्रतिज्ञावारणार्थाय निहनिष्यसि सायकै:
sañjaya uvāca | tvaṃ cet karṇasutaṃ pārtha sūtaputrasya paśyataḥ | pratijñā-vāraṇārthāya nihaniṣyasi sāyakaiḥ |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O Pārtha, ikaw na nagbibigay-galang sa mararangal—kung sa harap mismo ni Karṇa, ang anak ng kutsero, ay papatayin mo sa mga palaso si Vṛṣasena, ang kanyang anak, upang tuparin ang iyong panata at alisin ang hadlang, kung gayon si Karṇa na may masamang loob, sa pagkakita sa minamahal niyang anak na napatay, ay mapipilitang alalahanin ang payong minsang sinabi nina Droṇa, Bhīṣma, at Vidura.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between keeping a vow (pratijñā) and the human cost of fulfilling it in war. It suggests that decisive action taken for dharma-bound commitments can trigger moral reflection in opponents—here, Karṇa’s grief may awaken remembrance of earlier wise counsel.
Sañjaya describes a scenario to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: if Arjuna kills Karṇa’s son Vṛṣasena in Karṇa’s presence to clear the way for his own vowed objective, Karṇa—struck by the sight of his son’s death—will recall the admonitions previously given by Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and Vidura.