Shloka 2
कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement
तद्विशिष्टोडपि वा कर्ण: शिष्य: शिष्यगुणैर्युत: । कुन्तीपुत्रेण भीमेन निर्जित: स तु लीलया,अथवा शिष्योचित सदगुणोंसे सम्पन्न परशुरामका वह शिष्य उनसे भी बढ़-चढ़कर है, तो भी उसे कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेनने खेल-खेलमें ही पराजित कर दिया
tad-viśiṣṭo 'pi vā karṇaḥ śiṣyaḥ śiṣya-guṇair yutaḥ | kuntī-putreṇa bhīmena nirjitaḥ sa tu līlayā ||
Selbst wenn Karṇa—jener Schüler—außergewöhnlich war, mit allen einem Schüler geziemenden Tugenden ausgestattet, wurde er doch von Bhīma, dem Sohn Kuntīs, besiegt, gleichsam spielend.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Training and personal virtues do not guarantee victory; in the moral world of the Mahabharata, pride in one’s accomplishments is repeatedly checked by the unpredictable force of strength, fate, and circumstance—inviting humility even in warriors.
Karna, speaking, concedes that even an outstanding disciple (identified here with Karna himself) was defeated by Bhima, Kunti’s son, and that the defeat appeared effortless—highlighting Bhima’s power and Karna’s moment of setback.