Karna Quotes in Sanskrit With Meaning: Bio, WhatsApp Status and Shlokas
Karna is the hero people quote when they want to say something about themselves: that birth doesn't decide worth, that a word given is a word kept, that a friend is a friend to the end. So here are the Karna shlokas people reach for most for an Instagram bio, a WhatsApp status or a tattoo — each one complete in Sanskrit, never cut in half, with how to read it and its meaning in Hindi and English.
Every shloka comes with its real source. Many "Karna quotes" shared online are from later poems, novels or TV serials, not the Mahabharata — we've marked those too, near the end.
Karna Sanskrit shlokas with meaning
The most loved first. The Mahabharata verses are from the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute's critical edition (the standard scholarly text), with references as Parva · chapter.verse; the one verse from a later Sanskrit play is marked as such. Each card is a whole shloka, with how to read it and its meaning in English and Hindi — use all of it, or the line that speaks to you.
सूतो वा सूतपुत्रो वा यो वा को वा भवाम्यहम्।
दैवायत्तं कुले जन्म मदायत्तं तु पौरुषम्॥
दैवायत्तं कुले जन्म मदायत्तं तु पौरुषम्॥
sūto vā sūtaputro vā yo vā ko vā bhavāmy aham
daivāyattaṃ kule janma madāyattaṃ tu pauruṣam
daivāyattaṃ kule janma madāyattaṃ tu pauruṣam
“Charioteer or charioteer's son, whoever I may be — the family I was born into was in the hands of fate; my courage is in my own.”
मैं सूत हूँ या सूतपुत्र, जो भी हूँ — किस कुल में जन्म हो, यह भाग्य के हाथ है; पर पुरुषार्थ मेरे हाथ में है।
Veṇīsaṃhāra 3.37 by Bhaṭṭa Nārāyaṇa · a later Sanskrit play, not Vyasa's Mahabharata
बिभेमि न तथा मृत्योर्यथा बिभ्येऽनृतादहम्।
विशेषेण द्विजातीनां सर्वेषां सर्वदा सताम्।
प्रदाने जीवितस्यापि न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा॥
विशेषेण द्विजातीनां सर्वेषां सर्वदा सताम्।
प्रदाने जीवितस्यापि न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा॥
bibhemi na tathā mṛtyor yathā bibhye 'nṛtād aham
viśeṣeṇa dvijātīnāṃ sarveṣāṃ sarvadā satām
pradāne jīvitasyāpi na me 'trāsti vicāraṇā
viśeṣeṇa dvijātīnāṃ sarveṣāṃ sarvadā satām
pradāne jīvitasyāpi na me 'trāsti vicāraṇā
“I do not fear death as much as I fear untruth — above all toward the twice-born, and toward all good people, always. Even if it means giving up my life, I have no second thoughts about this.”
मैं मृत्यु से उतना नहीं डरता, जितना असत्य से डरता हूँ — विशेषकर ब्राह्मणों और सभी सज्जनों के प्रति, सदा। इसके लिए प्राण भी देने पड़ें, तो मुझे कोई दुविधा नहीं।
Mahabharata · Vana Parva 3.286.6 · Karna to Surya, before giving away his armour
वृणोमि कीर्तिं लोके हि जीवितेनापि भानुमन्।
कीर्तिमानश्नुते स्वर्गं हीनकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति॥
कीर्तिर्हि पुरुषं लोके संजीवयति मातृवत्।
अकीर्तिर्जीवितं हन्ति जीवतोऽपि शरीरिणः॥
कीर्तिमानश्नुते स्वर्गं हीनकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति॥
कीर्तिर्हि पुरुषं लोके संजीवयति मातृवत्।
अकीर्तिर्जीवितं हन्ति जीवतोऽपि शरीरिणः॥
vṛṇomi kīrtiṃ loke hi jīvitenāpi bhānuman
kīrtimān aśnute svargaṃ hīnakīrtis tu naśyati
kīrtir hi puruṣaṃ loke saṃjīvayati mātṛvat
akīrtir jīvitaṃ hanti jīvato 'pi śarīriṇaḥ
kīrtimān aśnute svargaṃ hīnakīrtis tu naśyati
kīrtir hi puruṣaṃ loke saṃjīvayati mātṛvat
akīrtir jīvitaṃ hanti jīvato 'pi śarīriṇaḥ
“O radiant one, I choose fame in this world even at the price of my life. The man with a good name reaches heaven; the one without it perishes. Fame keeps a man alive in the world like a mother; infamy kills the life even of one who still walks in a body.”
हे सूर्यदेव, प्राण देकर भी मैं संसार में कीर्ति चुनता हूँ। कीर्तिमान स्वर्ग पाता है, कीर्तिहीन नष्ट हो जाता है। कीर्ति माँ की तरह मनुष्य को जीवित रखती है; अपकीर्ति जीते-जी जीवन को मार देती है।
Mahabharata · Vana Parva 3.284.31–32 · Karna to Surya
प्राप्स्यामि परमं लोके यशः स्वर्भानुसूदन।
जीवितेनापि मे रक्ष्या कीर्तिस्तद्विद्धि मे व्रतम्॥
जीवितेनापि मे रक्ष्या कीर्तिस्तद्विद्धि मे व्रतम्॥
prāpsyāmi paramaṃ loke yaśaḥ svarbhānusūdana
jīvitenāpi me rakṣyā kīrtis tad viddhi me vratam
jīvitenāpi me rakṣyā kīrtis tad viddhi me vratam
“I will win the highest renown in the world, O Sun. My good name must be guarded even at the cost of my life — know that this is my vow.”
हे सूर्यदेव, मैं संसार में परम यश प्राप्त करूँगा। प्राण देकर भी मुझे अपनी कीर्ति की रक्षा करनी है — इसे मेरा व्रत समझो।
Mahabharata · Vana Parva 3.284.38 · Karna to Surya
न पृथिव्या सकलया न सुवर्णस्य राशिभिः।
हर्षाद्भयाद्वा गोविन्द अनृतं वक्तुमुत्सहे॥
हर्षाद्भयाद्वा गोविन्द अनृतं वक्तुमुत्सहे॥
na pṛthivyā sakalayā na suvarṇasya rāśibhiḥ
harṣād bhayād vā govinda anṛtaṃ vaktum utsahe
harṣād bhayād vā govinda anṛtaṃ vaktum utsahe
“Not for the whole earth, not for heaps of gold, not out of joy or fear, Govinda, can I bring myself to speak a falsehood.”
हे गोविन्द, पूरी पृथ्वी के लिए, सोने के ढेरों के लिए, हर्ष या भय से भी मैं असत्य नहीं बोल सकता।
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva 5.139.12 · Karna to Krishna
वधाद्बन्धाद्भयाद्वापि लोभाद्वापि जनार्दन।
अनृतं नोत्सहे कर्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः॥
अनृतं नोत्सहे कर्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः॥
vadhād bandhād bhayād vāpi lobhād vāpi janārdana
anṛtaṃ notsahe kartuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ
anṛtaṃ notsahe kartuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ
“Not for fear of death or of chains, not from fear or from greed, Janardana, can I bring myself to be false to the wise son of Dhritarashtra.”
हे जनार्दन, न वध के डर से, न बंधन के, न भय से, न लोभ से — मैं बुद्धिमान दुर्योधन के साथ विश्वासघात नहीं कर सकता।
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva 5.139.17 · Karna to Krishna, refusing to switch sides
कृतं सर्वेण मेऽन्येन सखित्वं च त्वया वृणे।
द्वन्द्वयुद्धं च पार्थेन कर्तुमिच्छामि भारत॥
अस्य राज्यप्रदानस्य सदृशं किं ददानि ते।
प्रब्रूहि राजशार्दूल कर्ता ह्यस्मि तथा नृप।
अत्यन्तं सख्यमिच्छामीत्याह तं स सुयोधनः॥
द्वन्द्वयुद्धं च पार्थेन कर्तुमिच्छामि भारत॥
अस्य राज्यप्रदानस्य सदृशं किं ददानि ते।
प्रब्रूहि राजशार्दूल कर्ता ह्यस्मि तथा नृप।
अत्यन्तं सख्यमिच्छामीत्याह तं स सुयोधनः॥
kṛtaṃ sarveṇa me 'nyena sakhitvaṃ ca tvayā vṛṇe
dvandvayuddhaṃ ca pārthena kartum icchāmi bhārata
asya rājyapradānasya sadṛśaṃ kiṃ dadāni te
prabrūhi rājaśārdūla kartā hy asmi tathā nṛpa
atyantaṃ sakhyam icchāmīty āha taṃ sa suyodhanaḥ
dvandvayuddhaṃ ca pārthena kartum icchāmi bhārata
asya rājyapradānasya sadṛśaṃ kiṃ dadāni te
prabrūhi rājaśārdūla kartā hy asmi tathā nṛpa
atyantaṃ sakhyam icchāmīty āha taṃ sa suyodhanaḥ
“Karna: "I need nothing else. I choose your friendship — and I want to fight Partha in single combat." Then, crowned king of Anga, he asks: "What can I give you to equal this gift of a kingdom? Tell me, tiger among kings, and I will do it." Suyodhana answered him: "I want a friendship without end."”
कर्ण: "मुझे और कुछ नहीं चाहिए; मैं तुम्हारी मित्रता चुनता हूँ — और पार्थ से द्वन्द्वयुद्ध करना चाहता हूँ।" फिर अंगराज बनकर उसने पूछा: "इस राज्य-दान के बराबर मैं तुम्हें क्या दूँ? हे राजश्रेष्ठ, बताओ, मैं वैसा ही करूँगा।" सुयोधन ने उससे कहा: "मुझे अटूट मित्रता चाहिए।"
Mahabharata · Adi Parva 1.126.15 and 1.126.38 · Karna and Duryodhana
क्षत्रियाणां बलं ज्येष्ठं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना।
शूराणां च नदीनां च प्रभवा दुर्विदाः किल॥
शूराणां च नदीनां च प्रभवा दुर्विदाः किल॥
kṣatriyāṇāṃ balaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ yoddhavyaṃ kṣatrabandhunā
śūrāṇāṃ ca nadīnāṃ ca prabhavā durvidāḥ kila
śūrāṇāṃ ca nadīnāṃ ca prabhavā durvidāḥ kila
“For warriors, strength is what counts; even a humble warrior deserves to be fought. The origins of heroes, like the sources of rivers, are hard to know.”
क्षत्रियों में बल ही सबसे बड़ा है; साधारण क्षत्रिय से भी युद्ध किया जाना चाहिए। वीरों और नदियों का उद्गम जानना कठिन है।
Mahabharata · Adi Parva 1.127.11 · Duryodhana, defending Karna
राधेयोऽहमाधिरथिः कर्णस्त्वामभिवादये।
प्राप्ता किमर्थं भवती ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते॥
प्राप्ता किमर्थं भवती ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते॥
rādheyo 'ham ādhirathiḥ karṇas tvām abhivādaye
prāptā kimarthaṃ bhavatī brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te
prāptā kimarthaṃ bhavatī brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te
“I am Karna — Radheya, son of Adhiratha — and I bow to you. Why have you come, lady? Tell me what I may do for you.”
मैं राधा और अधिरथ का पुत्र कर्ण हूँ, आपको प्रणाम करता हूँ। आप किस लिए आई हैं? बताइए, मैं आपके लिए क्या करूँ?
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva 5.143.1 · Karna to Kunti, his birth mother
मया प्लवेन संग्रामं तितीर्षन्ति दुरत्ययम्।
अपारे पारकामा ये त्यजेयं तानहं कथम्॥
अपारे पारकामा ये त्यजेयं तानहं कथम्॥
mayā plavena saṃgrāmaṃ titīrṣanti duratyayam
apāre pārakāmā ye tyajeyaṃ tān ahaṃ katham
apāre pārakāmā ye tyajeyaṃ tān ahaṃ katham
“With me as their boat they hope to cross this impassable war. How can I abandon those who seek the far shore of a shoreless sea?”
मुझे नाव बनाकर वे इस दुस्तर युद्ध को पार करना चाहते हैं। जो इस अपार सागर का किनारा चाहते हैं, उन्हें मैं कैसे छोड़ दूँ?
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva 5.144.14 · Karna to Kunti
न ते जातु नशिष्यन्ति पुत्राः पञ्च यशस्विनि।
निरर्जुनाः सकर्णा वा सार्जुना वा हते मयि॥
निरर्जुनाः सकर्णा वा सार्जुना वा हते मयि॥
na te jātu naśiṣyanti putrāḥ pañca yaśasvini
nirarjunāḥ sakarṇā vā sārjunā vā hate mayi
nirarjunāḥ sakarṇā vā sārjunā vā hate mayi
“Your five sons, illustrious lady, will never perish: either without Arjuna and with Karna, or with Arjuna once I am slain.”
हे यशस्विनी, तुम्हारे पाँच पुत्र कभी नष्ट नहीं होंगे — अर्जुन के बिना कर्ण के साथ, या मेरे मरने पर अर्जुन के साथ।
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva 5.144.22 · Karna to Kunti
यावच्चक्रमिदं भूमेरुद्धरामि धनंजय।
न मां रथस्थो भूमिष्ठमसज्जं हन्तुमर्हसि।
न वासुदेवात्त्वत्तो वा पाण्डवेय बिभेम्यहम्॥
न मां रथस्थो भूमिष्ठमसज्जं हन्तुमर्हसि।
न वासुदेवात्त्वत्तो वा पाण्डवेय बिभेम्यहम्॥
yāvac cakram idaṃ bhūmer uddharāmi dhanaṃjaya
na māṃ rathastho bhūmiṣṭham asajjaṃ hantum arhasi
na vāsudevāt tvatto vā pāṇḍaveya bibhemy aham
na māṃ rathastho bhūmiṣṭham asajjaṃ hantum arhasi
na vāsudevāt tvatto vā pāṇḍaveya bibhemy aham
“Wait, Dhananjaya, while I lift this wheel out of the earth. Standing on your chariot, you should not strike me while I stand on the ground, unready. I fear neither Vasudeva nor you, son of Pandu.”
हे धनंजय, जब तक मैं यह पहिया भूमि से निकालता हूँ, रुको। रथ पर खड़े होकर तुम्हें मुझ निहत्थे, भूमि पर खड़े योद्धा को नहीं मारना चाहिए। हे पाण्डुपुत्र, मैं न वासुदेव से डरता हूँ, न तुमसे।
Mahabharata · Karna Parva 8.66.64 · Karna to Arjuna, as his chariot wheel sinks
The other side of the story
यदा रजस्वलां कृष्णां दुःशासनवशे स्थिताम्।
सभायां प्राहसः कर्ण क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥
सभायां प्राहसः कर्ण क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः॥
yadā rajasvalāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ duḥśāsanavaśe sthitām
sabhāyāṃ prāhasaḥ karṇa kva te dharmas tadā gataḥ
sabhāyāṃ prāhasaḥ karṇa kva te dharmas tadā gataḥ
“When Draupadi was in Duhshasana's power in the assembly and you laughed, Karna — where had your dharma gone then?”
जब द्रौपदी सभा में दुःशासन के वश में थी और तुम हँसे थे, कर्ण, तब तुम्हारा धर्म कहाँ गया था?
Mahabharata · Karna Parva 8.67.4 · Krishna to Karna
The Mahabharata never makes Karna flawless. When his chariot wheel sinks and he appeals to dharma, Krishna answers with this. That is part of why Karna still moves people: he is generous, loyal and brave, and he also made choices he had to answer for.
Famous "Karna quotes" that aren't from the Mahabharata
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सूतो वा सूतपुत्रो वा…Karna's most shared Sanskrit line is almost always labelled "Mahabharata". It is from the Veṇīsaṃhāra, a Sanskrit play by Bhaṭṭa Nārāyaṇa written many centuries later. Still Karna speaking — just not Vyasa's words.Veṇīsaṃhāra 3.37
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पूछो मेरी जाति…One of the most loved Hindi Karna lines, from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's epic poem Rashmirathi (1952). Dinkar's work is still in copyright, so we quote only its opening.Rashmirathi by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar · Sarg 1
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मित्रता बड़ा अनमोल रतन…Karna's famous answer to Krishna about friendship — also Dinkar's Rashmirathi, not the Mahabharata.Rashmirathi by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar · Sarg 3
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जब नाश मनुज पर छाता है…Often shared as a Karna quote, but in Rashmirathi it is Krishna who says it, to Duryodhana.Rashmirathi by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar · Sarg 3 · spoken by Krishna
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"Karna asked Krishna…"The long forward where Karna lists his misfortunes and Krishna replies "I was born in a jail…" is a modern anonymous message. Nothing like it is in the Mahabharata.Anonymous internet forward
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The gold tooth storyKarna giving away the gold in his teeth as he lay dying is a folk retelling of his generosity. It isn't in the critical edition of the Karna Parva.Folk tradition
Questions people ask
What is Karna's most famous quote?
“सूतो वा सूतपुत्रो वा… दैवायत्तं कुले जन्म मदायत्तं तु पौरुषम्” — the family I was born into is fate's doing; my courage is my own. It is from the Veṇīsaṃhāra (3.37), not the Mahabharata. From the Mahabharata itself, the strongest short line is “I fear untruth more than I fear death” (Vana Parva 3.286.6).
What does Radheya mean?
Son of Radha — Karna's foster mother, the wife of the charioteer Adhiratha. Karna chose to be known by her name all his life, even after learning he was Kunti's son.
Why is Karna called Suryaputra?
Surya is the Sun god, and Karna was his son, born to Kunti before her marriage. That's why our posters show him in light and fire.
Where do these meanings come from?
The Sanskrit is from the critical edition of the Mahabharata (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute), except “सूतो वा सूतपुत्रो वा”, which is from the Veṇīsaṃhāra. The English and Hindi meanings are our own close renderings of the Sanskrit.
Bring the whole war home
