Shloka 20
Brahmaṇānāṃ Yācanā—Tīrtha-yātrā-prastāvaḥ
The Brahmanas’ Petition and the Proposal of Pilgrimage
अहं च कर्ण जानामि यथावद् भरतर्षभ | सत्यसंधं महोत्साहं महावीर्य महाबलम्,“भरतश्रेष्ठ! मैं कर्णको अच्छी तरह जानता हूँ। वह सत्यप्रतिज्ञ, अत्यन्त उत्साही, महापराक्रमी और महाबली है
ahaṃ ca karṇa jānāmi yathāvad bharatarṣabha | satyasaṃdhaṃ mahotsāhaṃ mahāvīrya mahābalam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: “Hỡi bậc trượng phu ưu tú của dòng Bharata, ta cũng biết rõ Karṇa đúng như bản tính của chàng—kiên định với chân thật, chí khí lớn lao, dũng lực phi thường và sức mạnh vĩ đại.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal central to dharma: satyasaṃdha—being bound to truth and to one’s pledged word. It suggests that moral reliability (keeping vows) is a defining virtue, especially when paired with great power, because such a person’s commitments shape outcomes for many.
Vaiśaṃpāyana offers a character assessment of Karṇa to the listener addressed as bharatarṣabha, emphasizing that Karṇa is known for unwavering truthfulness and formidable martial qualities. The statement functions as a narrative framing that prepares the audience to understand Karṇa’s later choices and their weight.