Shloka 21
शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्
Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally
अथ कस्मात् परानेव घ्नतो मर्षयसे नृप । “यह शपथ ली जा चुकी है कि “हम सब लोग एक साथ होकर लड़ें।” नरेश्वर! ऐसी दशामें शत्रुओंको अपनी सेनाका संहार करते देखकर भी तुम क्यों सहन करते हो?” ।।
atha kasmāt parān eva ghnato marṣayase nṛpa | vāryamāṇā mayā pūrva naite cakrur vaco mama ||
Śakuni sprach: „Warum, o König, erträgst du dies — da du siehst, wie der Feind unsere Männer niederschlägt? Ist nicht bereits geschworen worden: ‚Wir alle werden vereint kämpfen‘?“ Duryodhana erwiderte: „Zuvor versuchte ich, sie zurückzuhalten, doch sie folgten meinen Worten nicht.“
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical burden of leadership in war: a commander must uphold agreed strategy and collective resolve, and failure to enforce unity and discipline invites ruin. It also shows how blame and frustration arise when authority is contested and orders are ignored.
During the Kurukṣetra war (Śalya Parva), Duryodhana addresses the king leading his side, protesting that the enemy is slaughtering their troops while the king ‘endures’ it. He adds that he had earlier tried to restrain certain actions, but his words were not obeyed—implying breakdown of coordination despite an oath to fight together.