Shloka 50
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सुशर्माणमचोदयत्् | अर्जुनस्य वधार्थाय भीमसेनस्य चो भयो:,तब राजा दुर्योधनने अर्जुन और भीमसेन दोनोंके वधके लिये सुशर्माको भेजा
tato duryodhano rājā suśarmāṇam acodayat | arjunasya vadhārthāya bhīmasenasya ca ubhayoḥ ||
Dann drängte König Duryodhana Suśarmā und beauftragte ihn, den Tod Arjunas herbeizuführen—und auch den Bhīmasenas. In der ethischen Atmosphäre des Krieges hebt die Zeile Duryodhanas Abhängigkeit von List und delegierter Gewalt hervor: Er lenkt Verbündete zu gezieltem Töten statt zu Zurückhaltung oder Versöhnung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how intent and leadership choices shape moral responsibility in war: inciting others toward targeted killing reflects a will driven by hostility and expediency, contrasting with ideals of restraint and righteous conduct (dharma) even amid conflict.
Sanjaya reports that Duryodhana instructs and incites Suśarmā, an allied king, to undertake an operation aimed at killing Arjuna and Bhīmasena—two principal Pandava warriors—thereby escalating the conflict through a focused attempt on key opponents.