Shloka 2
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
कर्णो होको रणे हन्ता पाण्डवान् सृञ्जयै: सह । इति दुर्योधन: सूत प्राब्रवीन्मां मुहुर्मुहु:,सूत! दुर्योधन मुझसे बारंबार कहा करता था कि “कर्ण अकेला ही रणभूमिमें सृजयोंसहित समस्त पाण्डवोंका वध कर सकता है”
karṇo hy eko raṇe hantā pāṇḍavān sṛñjayaiḥ saha | iti duryodhanaḥ sūta prābravīn māṁ muhur muhuḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—सूत, दुर्योधनः माम् मुहुर्मुहुः प्राब्रवीत्—‘कर्ण एक एव रणे पाण्डवान् सृञ्जयैः सह हन्तुं समर्थः’ इति।
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse exposes how attachment to power and victory can distort judgment: Duryodhana repeatedly places absolute faith in Karna’s martial ability, treating mass killing as a confident plan. It implicitly contrasts strategic bravado with the ethical weight of fratricidal war.
Bhima reports Duryodhana’s repeated claim to the Sūta: that Karna, single-handedly, is capable of killing the Pandavas along with their Sṛñjaya allies in battle—underscoring Karna’s feared reputation and Duryodhana’s dependence on him.