Shloka 15
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
एवमस्त्विति तान् देव: प्रत्युक्त्वा प्राविशद् दिवम् ते तु लब्धवरा: प्रीता: सम्प्रधार्य परस्परम्
evam astv iti tān devaḥ pratyuktvā prāviśad divam | te tu labdhavarāḥ prītāḥ sampradhārya parasparam ||
“Jadilah demikian,” ujar sang dewa; setelah mengabulkan anugerah itu, ia pun berangkat ke surga. Ketiganya, gembira karena memperoleh karunia, lalu berembuk satu sama lain dan mulai menata langkah berikutnya.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension: divine gifts (boons) are value-neutral, but their ethical outcome depends on the recipient’s intention. When power gained through tapas is guided by pride or aggression, it becomes a catalyst for further harm rather than uplift.
In Duryodhana’s recounting of an ancient episode, a deity grants boons and returns to heaven. The boon-receivers, pleased, then confer among themselves—preparing the next step of their plan (in the wider context, the asuras’ subsequent actions leading toward the Tripura episode).