Shloka 36
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
शत्रुसूदन_ जनमेजय! धर्मज्ञ वीर कर्णने अन्तःपुरमें प्रवेश करके गान्धारीसहित धृतराष्ट्रका दर्शन किया और पुत्रकी भाँति उसने उनके दोनों चरण पकड़ लिये। धृतराष्ट्रने भी उसे प्रेमपूर्वक हृदयसे लगाकर विदा किया ।। तदा प्रभूृति राजा च शकुनिश्चापि सौबल: । जानते निर्जितान् पार्थान् कर्णेन युधि भारत
tadā prabhṛti rājā ca śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ | jānate nirjitān pārthān karṇena yudhi bhārata ||
“O Janamejaya, slayer of foes!” The dharma-knowing hero Karṇa entered the inner palace and paid his respects to Dhṛtarāṣṭra together with Gāndhārī; like a son, he clasped both the king’s feet. Dhṛtarāṣṭra, in turn, embraced him with affection from the heart and sent him on his way. From that time onward, O Bhārata, both the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and Śakuni, son of Subala, came to regard the Pāṇḍava brothers as already defeated in battle, convinced that Karṇa would overcome them.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leaders can slip into adharma when they treat partisan hopes as certainty—assuming victory through a favored champion (Karṇa) and thereby ignoring prudent judgment, ethical restraint, and the real consequences of war.
After Karṇa’s actions and assurances, Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Śakuni become convinced that the Pāṇḍavas are effectively already defeated in battle by Karṇa, and this belief influences their political and strategic outlook.