King Yudhishthira, the righteous, is of opinion that today's battle is a play at dice in which the life of the ever-deviceful and everover bearing Karna has been laid as an wager. If he is slain, the Kauravas would necessarily meet with defeat.
नित्योद्युक्ते सततं चाप्रसह्ये कर्णे द्यूतं ह्यद्य रणे निबद्धम्। रेवं बुद्धिः पार्थिवे धर्मपुत्रे॥