Shloka 43
उपदिष्टो वधोपाय: कर्णस्य गुरुणा स्वयम् | व्यायच्छतश्न खड्गेन द्विधा खड्गं चकार ह,“गुरु द्रोणाचार्यने स्वयं ही कर्णको अभिमन्युके वधका उपाय बताया था और जब वह तलवार लेकर परिश्रमपूर्वक युद्ध कर रहा था, उस समय उन्होंने ही उसकी तलवारके दो टुकड़े कर दिये थे
upadiṣṭo vadhopāyaḥ karṇasya guruṇā svayam | vyāyacchataś ca khaḍgena dvidhā khaḍgaṃ cakāra ha ||
Sañjaya said: “Karṇa had been personally instructed by his teacher in the method of killing; yet, while Karṇa was straining in combat with his sword, the teacher himself struck and split that sword into two.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of power gained through instruction and strategy in war: even a guru-given advantage can be negated, raising ethical questions about loyalty, the limits of teacherly authority, and the harsh reversals that characterize dharma in wartime.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa had been taught a killing-stratagem by his guru, but during intense sword-fighting the guru himself split Karṇa’s sword into two, abruptly undermining Karṇa’s effort in battle.