Shloka 231
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 141: Bhīma–Hiḍimba Confrontation and Protective Discourse
ततो वैकर्तन: कर्ण: शकुनिश्चापि सौबल: । अनेकैरशभ्युपायैस्ते जिघांसन्ति सम पाण्डवान्
tato vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ | anekair aśabhyupāyais te jighāṃsanti sma pāṇḍavān ||
Daraufhin suchten Karṇa, genannt Vaikartana, der Sohn des Wagenlenkers, und Śakuni aus dem Hause Saubala, mit vielen niederträchtigen und unziemlichen Ränken immer wieder die Pāṇḍavas zu töten.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical decline that occurs when hostility overrides dharma: choosing ‘aśabhya upāya’ (base, improper means) to harm others marks a conscious departure from righteous conduct and foreshadows destructive consequences.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that Karṇa and Śakuni are actively devising multiple ignoble schemes with the intent to kill the Pāṇḍavas, indicating escalating conspiracy rather than open, lawful confrontation.