Shloka 18
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
एतदाचार्यतनयाच्छुत्वा राज॑स्तवात्मज: । आशां बहुमतीं चक्रे कर्ण प्रति स वै तदा,राजन! उस समय आचार्यपुत्र अश्वत्थामाके मुखसे यह बात सुनकर आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने कर्णके प्रति विशेष आशा बाँध ली
etad ācārya-tanayāc chrutvā rājas tavātmajaḥ | āśāṃ bahumatīṃ cakre karṇaṃ prati sa vai tadā ||
Sañjaya said: Hearing these words from the son of the preceptor (Aśvatthāman), your son, O King, at that time conceived a greatly heightened hope in Karṇa—placing his confidence in him as the pillar of their cause amid the moral and strategic uncertainty of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in crisis, leaders often anchor their morale and decisions on a single champion. Ethically, it hints at the danger of substituting personal hope and reliance on prowess for sober reflection on dharma and the broader consequences of war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana, after hearing Aśvatthāman’s words, becomes especially confident in Karṇa, expecting him to deliver decisive success for the Kauravas.