Shloka 23
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 114 — Karṇa–Bhīmasena Missile Exchange, Disarmament, and Arjuna’s Intervention
नित्यं हि समरे राजन् विजिगीषन्ति मानवान् | कर्णेन विहिता राजन् दुःशासनमनुव्रता:,“नरेश्वर! ये सदा समरभूमिमें मनुष्योंको जीतनेकी इच्छा रखते हैं। महाराज! कर्णने इन्हें दःशासनका अनुगामी बना रखा है
nityaṁ hi samare rājan vijigīṣanti mānavān | karṇena vihitā rājan duḥśāsanam anuvratāḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O König, im Kampf gibt es stets Männer, die vom Verlangen brennen, andere zu bezwingen. Und, o König, diese Krieger — von Karṇa gelenkt — sind zu Gefolgsleuten Duḥśāsanas gemacht worden.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in war: the drive to conquer can become a standing disposition, and when guided by influential leaders it can turn into unquestioning followership—shifting responsibility from personal discernment to obedience.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that certain fighters are perpetually intent on victory in battle, and that under Karṇa’s direction they have aligned themselves as adherents of Duḥśāsana within the Kaurava camp.