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 ||
カルナは言った。「おおクリシュナ、ヴリシュニ族の裔よ。ドゥルヨーダナは私に近づき、私を頼みとしたがゆえに、武器を取ることを敢えてした。さらにパーンダヴァらと公然たる敵対へ踏み込むことさえ敢えてしたのだ。まこと、私の支えへの確信こそが、彼をして戦の道を選ばせたのである。」
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.