Shloka 15
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
मां च कृष्ण समासाद्य कृत: शस्त्रसमुद्यम: । दुर्योधनेन वार्ष्णेय विग्रहश्चापि पाण्डवै:,वृष्णिनन्दन श्रीकृष्ण! दुर्योधनने मेरे ही भरोसे हथियार उठाने तथा पाण्डवोंके साथ विग्रह करनेका साहस किया है
māṃ ca kṛṣṇa samāsādya kṛtaḥ śastra-samudyamaḥ | duryodhanena vārṣṇeya vigrahaś cāpi pāṇḍavaiḥ ||
Karna dijo: «Oh Kṛṣṇa, vástago de los Vṛṣṇis, al acercarse a mí y apoyarse en mí, Duryodhana se ha atrevido a empuñar las armas; y también se ha aventurado a una enemistad abierta con los Pāṇḍavas. En verdad, es la confianza en mi respaldo lo que lo ha envalentonado a escoger el camino de la guerra.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral responsibility in alliances: a leader’s decision to wage war can be fueled by confidence in a powerful supporter. It implicitly warns that enabling unjust aggression—through strength, promises, or pride—can make the ally complicit in the ethical consequences of war.
Karna addresses Krishna and states that Duryodhana has taken up arms and entered conflict with the Pandavas because he has approached Karna and relies on Karna’s backing. It is a candid admission that Karna’s support has emboldened Duryodhana’s warlike stance.