Shloka 2
Sundopasundayoḥ Tapas–Varadāna–Prasaṅgaḥ
Sunda and Upasunda: Austerities and the Boon
पूर्वमेव हि ते सूक्ष्मैरुपायैर्यतितास्त्वया । निग्रहीतुं तदा वीर न चैव शकितास्त्वया,वीर! पहले भी तुमने अनेक गुप्त उपायोंद्वारा पाण्डवोंको दबानेकी चेष्टा की है, परंतु उनपर तुम्हारा वश नहीं चल सका। भूपाल! वे जब बच्चे थे और यहीं तुम्हारे पास रहते थे, उस समय उनके पक्षमें कोई नहीं था, तब भी तुम उन्हें बाधा पहुँचानेमें सफल न हो सके
pūrvam eva hi te sūkṣmair upāyair yatitās tvayā | nigrahītuṃ tadā vīra na caiva śakitās tvayā ||
Karna disse: “De fato, já antes tentaste—por estratagemas sutis e secretos—subjugá-los. Contudo, então, ó herói, não foste capaz de contê-los. Mesmo quando eram crianças vivendo aqui sob teu poder, sem um partido forte a apoiá-los, ainda assim não conseguiste feri-los nem suprimi-los.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the limits of covert manipulation and unjust suppression: even repeated, subtle schemes may fail against resilient opponents, and ethical reflection is implied—attempts to harm the vulnerable (even as children) are both blameworthy and ultimately ineffective.
Karna addresses Duryodhana, reminding him that earlier attempts to control or crush the Pandavas through secret measures did not succeed. He emphasizes that even when the Pandavas were young and lacked allies, Duryodhana still could not overpower them—implying their strength and the futility of such plots.