Shloka 35
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
युद्धे संकर्षणसमो बलेनाभ्यधिको भुवि । गदाप्रहारं भीमो मे न जातु विषहेद् युधि,मैं युद्धमें बलरामजीके समान हूँ और बलमें इस भूतलपर सबसे बढ़कर हूँ। युद्धमें भीमसेन मेरी गदाका प्रहार कभी नहीं सह सकते
yuddhe saṅkarṣaṇasamo balenābhyadhiko bhuvi | gadāprahāraṃ bhīmo me na jātu viṣahed yudhi ||
Im Kampf bin ich Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma) ebenbürtig, und an Kraft überrage ich alle auf dieser Erde. In der Schlacht könnte Bhīmasena den Schlag meiner Keule niemals ertragen.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and self-exaltation can distort judgment: Duryodhana measures himself against a revered warrior (Balarāma) and dismisses Bhīma’s capacity, revealing the ethical danger of hubris that fuels conflict rather than restraint.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and preparations, Duryodhana asserts his martial superiority, claiming parity with Balarāma and insisting that Bhīma cannot withstand his mace-blow—an expression of confidence that hardens his stance toward war.