Shloka 676
रोचितो भवता सार्थ जानतापि बल तव । “कुन्तीनन्दन! तुम्हारे बलको जानते हुए भी दुर्योधनने कर्णका भरोसा करके ही तुम्हारे साथ युद्ध छेड़ना पसंद किया है
rocito bhavatā sārtha jñānatāpi bala tava | kuntīnandana! tvad-balaṃ jñātvāpi duryodhanena karṇa-bharosāyaiva tvayā saha yuddhaṃ chettum iṣṭam |
Sanjaya said: “O son of Kunti, even though your strength is well known, Duryodhana has chosen to provoke this war with you, placing his confidence solely in Karna. Knowing your might, he still prefers battle—driven by reliance on an ally rather than by prudent restraint.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of pride and misplaced reliance: even when an opponent’s strength is known, one may still choose conflict out of overconfidence in an ally. It implicitly contrasts prudent restraint with ego-driven escalation.
Sanjaya addresses Arjuna (Kuntinandana), explaining that Duryodhana, despite knowing Arjuna’s power, has decided to engage in war because he is banking on Karna’s support and prowess.