Shloka 12
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः कर्ण: प्रियरण: सदा । यत् कृतं तत्र पार्थेन तच्चकार महाबल:,तब सदा युद्धसे ही प्रेम करनेवाले महाबली कर्णने द्रोणाचार्यकी आज्ञा लेकर, अर्जुनने वहाँ जो-जो अस्त्र-कौशल प्रकट किया था, वह सब कर दिखाया
tato droṇābhyanujñātaḥ karṇaḥ priyaraṇaḥ sadā | yat kṛtaṃ tatra pārthena taccakāra mahābalaḥ ||
Then Karṇa—ever fond of battle—having obtained Droṇa’s permission, displayed the very same feats of weapon-skill that Pārtha (Arjuna) had shown there. The narrative underscores how martial excellence is pursued not only through learning but also through rivalry and the desire for recognition, setting the stage for ethical tensions about merit, status, and the right use of power.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Excellence can be replicated through determination and opportunity, but when driven by rivalry and the hunger for status, it can intensify ethical conflict—raising questions about how strength and skill should be directed within dharma.
After Arjuna demonstrates his prowess, Karṇa—having received Droṇa’s consent—performs the same martial displays, signaling his entry as a comparable warrior and sharpening the competitive tension between them.