Shloka 12
Sundopasundayoḥ Tapas–Varadāna–Prasaṅgaḥ
Sunda and Upasunda: Austerities and the Boon
तावत् प्रहरणीयास्ते तत् तुभ्यं तात रोचताम् । अस्मत्पक्षो महान् यावद् यावत् पाड्चालको लघु: । तावत् प्रहरणं तेषां क्रियतां मा विचारय,“राजन! इस समय हमारे लिये एक ही उपाय काममें लानेयोग्य है; वे पुरुषश्रेष्ठ पाण्डव जबतक अपनी जड़ नहीं जमा लेते, तभीतक उनपर प्रहार करना चाहिये। इसीसे वे काबूमें आ सकते हैं।' तात! मैं समझता हूँ, तुम्हें भी यह राय पसंद होगी। जबतक हमारा पक्ष बढ़ा-चढ़ा है और जबतक पांचालराजका बल हमसे कम है, तभीतक उनपर आक्रमण कर दिया जाय। इसमें दूसरा कुछ विचार न करो
tāvat praharaṇīyās te tat tubhyaṃ tāta rocatām | asmatpakṣo mahān yāvad yāvat pāñcālako laghuḥ | tāvat praharaṇaṃ teṣāṃ kriyatāṃ mā vicāraya ||
Karna disse: “Enquanto for possível golpeá-los, golpeia-os — que este conselho, querido pai, te agrade. Enquanto o nosso lado ainda for forte e enquanto o rei dos Pāñcālas permanecer relativamente fraco, que se faça um assalto contra eles. Não delibere mais.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a hard-edged political ethic: strike an opponent before they consolidate power and before allies (here, Pāñcāla) become strong. It implicitly raises a dharmic tension—strategic advantage is prioritized over restraint and careful deliberation.
Karna is advising an elder (addressed as ‘tāta’) to launch an immediate attack on the Pāṇḍavas, arguing that the moment is favorable because the Kaurava side is strong and the Pāñcāla support is still relatively weak.