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 ||
Wika ni Karna: “Tunay, noon pa man ay sinubukan mo na—sa masisinop at lihim na mga pakana—na pasukuin sila. Ngunit noon din, O bayani, hindi mo sila napigil. Kahit noong sila’y mga bata pa at naninirahan dito sa ilalim ng iyong kapangyarihan, na walang malakas na kakampi, hindi mo pa rin sila napinsala o napasuko.”
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.