Shloka 20
सदा हि तस्य स्पर्धा55सीदर्जुनेन विशाम्पते । अर्जुनस्य च कर्णेन यतो दृष्टो बभूव स:,राजन्! अर्जुन और कर्णने जबसे एक-दूसरेको देखा था, तभीसे कर्ण अर्जुनके साथ स्पर्धा रखता था और अर्जुन भी कर्णके साथ बड़ी स्पर्धा रखते थे
sadā hi tasya spardhā āsīd arjunena viśāmpate | arjunasya ca karṇena yato dṛṣṭo babhūva saḥ |
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Oh señor de los pueblos, desde el mismo instante en que Karṇa posó sus ojos en Arjuna, albergó sin cesar un espíritu de rivalidad hacia él; y Arjuna también mantuvo una firme determinación competitiva contra Karṇa. Así, su contienda mutua no nació de un solo incidente, sino de una comparación persistente, impulsada por el orgullo, que fue modelando su conducta y sus decisiones.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Persistent rivalry (spardhā) rooted in pride and comparison can become a long-term driver of action, narrowing judgment and steadily intensifying conflict. The verse highlights how enduring competitive fixation, once established, shapes character and future choices.
Vaiśampāyana explains to the king that Karṇa and Arjuna’s antagonism was not sudden: from their first encounter, Karṇa maintained rivalry toward Arjuna, and Arjuna reciprocated. This sets the background for their later confrontations and the deepening hostility between their sides.