Shloka 27
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
धार्रराष्ट्रो हि योधेषु सर्वेष्वेव सदार्जुन । तव मृत्युं रणे कर्ण मन्यते पुरुषर्षभ,पुरुषप्रवर अर्जुन! दुर्योधन रणक्षेत्रमें सम्पूर्ण योद्धाओंमेंसे कर्णको ही तुम्हारी मृत्यु मानता था
dhārtarāṣṭro hi yodheṣu sarveṣv eva sadārjuna | tava mṛtyuṃ raṇe karṇa manyate puruṣarṣabha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O Arjuna, Stier unter den Männern! Unter allen Kriegern hielt der Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras (Duryodhana) stets Karṇa für die eigentliche Ursache deines Todes im Kampf. In der Verblendung des Krieges setzte er seine Hoffnung auf einen einzigen Champion und wähnte, Karṇa allein werde dich zu Fall bringen.“
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, attachment to a single expectation can become delusion: Duryodhana fixates on Karṇa as the instrument of Arjuna’s death. It implicitly contrasts sober discernment with wish-driven certainty, reminding the listener that moral clarity and realistic judgment are easily lost amid rivalry and desperation.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Arjuna, stating that Duryodhana consistently believed Karṇa would kill Arjuna in battle. The line underscores the Kaurava camp’s reliance on Karṇa as their decisive counter to Arjuna’s prowess.