Karna Proposes to Kill the Pandavas in the Forest
Duryodhana turns away from his allies' counsel, dissatisfied. Karna sees it and his anger ignites. He proposes a direct solution: arm themselves, mount chariots, and ride to the forest to kill the Pandavas while they are still distressed, grieving, and without allies. The council applauds, and they set out as a body to do exactly that.
Duryodhana turned his face away. The counsel of Shakuni, Duhshasana, and Karna had not reached him. He was not happy. He was not reassured.
Karna saw it. His radiant eyes opened wide. Anger rose in him — not at Duryodhana, but at their own helplessness. He spoke to Duhshasana and Shakuni in wrath.
"O lords of men! Listen to my true views. With servile hands, we are trying to do everything that pleases the king. But while remaining stationary, we cannot always bring him pleasure."
Then he laid out a different kind of counsel.
"Let us now grasp our armour and weapons and, mounting our chariots, go together and kill the Pandavas, who are roaming in the forest. When they have all been pacified and have left for the unknown journey, we and Dhritarashtra's sons will be unchallenged. As long as they are distressed and as long as they are immersed in grief, as long as they are without allies, till then, we can do this. This is my view."
The words landed. They applauded him repeatedly, praising the suta's son, calling his words excellent. Then all those angry ones separately mounted their chariots. They set out in a body, having made up their minds to kill the Pandavas. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 305