Shloka 20
सदा हि तस्य स्पर्धा55सीदर्जुनेन विशाम्पते । अर्जुनस्य च कर्णेन यतो दृष्टो बभूव स:,राजन्! अर्जुन और कर्णने जबसे एक-दूसरेको देखा था, तभीसे कर्ण अर्जुनके साथ स्पर्धा रखता था और अर्जुन भी कर्णके साथ बड़ी स्पर्धा रखते थे
sadā hi tasya spardhā āsīd arjunena viśāmpate | arjunasya ca karṇena yato dṛṣṭo babhūva saḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai tuan rakyat, sejak saat Karṇa pertama kali memandang Arjuna, dia sentiasa menyimpan semangat persaingan terhadapnya; dan Arjuna juga mengekalkan tekad persaingan yang kuat terhadap Karṇa. Maka pertarungan mereka bukanlah lahir daripada satu peristiwa semata-mata, melainkan daripada perbandingan yang berpanjangan, didorong oleh keangkuhan, yang kian membentuk tindak-tanduk dan pilihan mereka.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Persistent rivalry (spardhā) rooted in pride and comparison can become a long-term driver of action, narrowing judgment and steadily intensifying conflict. The verse highlights how enduring competitive fixation, once established, shapes character and future choices.
Vaiśampāyana explains to the king that Karṇa and Arjuna’s antagonism was not sudden: from their first encounter, Karṇa maintained rivalry toward Arjuna, and Arjuna reciprocated. This sets the background for their later confrontations and the deepening hostility between their sides.