Shloka 8
भीष्म-पर्व अध्याय १०० — त्रिगर्त-आक्रमण, भीष्म-केन्द्रित पुनर्संयोजन, तथा शक्त्यस्त्र-विनिमय
निवत्ते युधि गाड़ेये न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भारत
nivṛtte yudhi gāḍhe ye nyastaśastre ca bhārata | bharatavaṃśī nareśa! yadā yuddhe gaṅgānandano bhīṣmaḥ śastrāṇi nikṣepsyati sarvathā ca nivartsyate, tadāhaṃ yuddhe bhīṣmasya paśyataḥ somakaiḥ saha sarvān kuntīputrān yugapat ghātayiṣyāmi—iti te satyasya śapathena bravīmi |
迦尔那说道：“噢，婆罗多啊，婆罗多族的君王！当激战正酣之时，恒河之子毗湿摩放下兵器，彻底退出战阵，那么就在毗湿摩亲眼注视之下，我将连同苏摩迦诸族，一举诛灭昆蒂的诸子。我以真理起誓，向你如此宣告。”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vows and appeals to truth (satya) can be used to intensify commitment in war, while also exposing an ethical tension: Karna frames his promised slaughter as contingent on Bhishma’s withdrawal, revealing how personal honor, rivalry, and strategic opportunity can override broader ideals of restraint and dharma.
Karna addresses the Kuru king (Duryodhana implied) and declares that once Bhishma withdraws from fighting and lays down his weapons, Karna will, in Bhishma’s very sight, kill the sons of Kunti together with the Somakas—swearing this as a solemn oath by truth.