Shloka 16
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय २७: सुशर्माह्वानम्, अर्जुनस्य प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, भगदत्तेन गजप्रहारः
सा हि दुर्योधनस्यासीन्मति: कर्णस्य चो भयो: । अर्जुनस्य वधोपाये तेन द्वैधमकल्पयत्,अर्जुनके वधका उपाय सोचते हुए दुर्योधन और कर्ण दोनोंके मनमें यही विचार उत्पन्न हुआ था। इसीलिये उसने युद्धको दो भागोंमें बाँट दिया
sā hi duryodhanasyāsīn matiḥ karṇasya cobhayoḥ | arjunasya vadhopāye tena dvaidham akalpayat ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Inilah benar-benar niat yang telah mantap dalam fikiran Duryodhana dan Karṇa—bagaimana Arjuna dapat dibunuh. Maka, demi tujuan itu, dia merancang pembahagian medan perang menjadi dua, mencari kematian Arjuna melalui helah, bukan semata-mata melalui pertempuran terbuka.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fixation on a single violent objective—Arjuna’s death—drives leaders to reshape an entire war plan. Ethically, it underscores how strategic brilliance can be subordinated to envy and hostility, turning planning into an instrument of adharma when the end is unjust.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana and Karṇa shared the same resolve: to find a means to kill Arjuna. To pursue this, Duryodhana (as commander/instigator) organizes the fighting arrangement in a twofold manner, implying a tactical split intended to isolate or target Arjuna.