Shloka 54
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
संजय उवाच दुर्योधनं तव सुतं सलिलस्थं महायशा: । श्रुत्वा तु करुणं वाक्यमभाषत युधिषिर:,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! महायशस्वी युधिष्ठिरने वह करुणायुक्त वचन सुनकर पानीमें स्थित हुए आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनसे इस प्रकार कहा
sañjaya uvāca duryodhanaṃ tava sutaṃ salilasthaṃ mahāyaśāḥ | śrutvā tu karuṇaṃ vākyam abhāṣata yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O König, der ruhmreiche Yudhiṣṭhira hörte jene von Mitleid erfüllten Worte und wandte sich daraufhin an deinen Sohn Duryodhana, der im Wasser stand, und sprach zu ihm wie folgt.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a setting shaped by violence and rivalry, the text highlights the ethical ideal of measured speech: Yudhiṣṭhira responds after hearing a sorrowful appeal, suggesting that dharma includes restraint, attentiveness, and moral clarity toward an enemy as well.
Sanjaya reports to the king that Yudhiṣṭhira, described as illustrious, hears a lamenting/compassionate statement and then addresses Duryodhana, who is positioned in water—setting up the ensuing exchange between the Pandava leader and the Kaurava prince.