उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
ते युधिष्ठिरमासीनमजि नै: प्रतिवासितम् | कृष्णप्रधाना: संहत्य पर्युपासन्त भारत
te yudhiṣṭhiram āsīnam araṇye pratīvāsitam | kṛṣṇapradhānāḥ saṃhatya paryupāsanta bhārata bhārata |
قال دوريوذانا: «إن أولئك الملوك، وكريشنا على رأسهم، اجتمعوا ثم قصدوا يودهيشتھيرا، وكان يقيم في الغابة جالسًا في هيئة ناسك. فجلسوا بقربه وتكلموا بعزمٍ على استئصالِك مع ذويك، قائلين: “واجبُنا أن نستردّ المملكة من يد دريتاراشترا.”»
दुर्योधन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical tension between rightful sovereignty and political ambition: appeals to “duty” (kartavya) can be used to justify aggressive aims, so dharma must be tested by intention, fairness, and the means employed—not merely by slogans of legitimacy.
Duryodhana describes a group of rulers, led by Kṛṣṇa, approaching the exiled Yudhiṣṭhira in the forest and sitting near him to speak; he frames their purpose as seeking to reclaim the kingdom from Dhṛtarāṣṭra, while also implying hostile intent toward Duryodhana and his kin.