Shloka 59
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
अर्जुनं वयमस्मान् वा निहन्यात् कपिकेतन: । त॑ चालमिति मन्यन्ते सव्यसाचिवधे धृता:
arjunaṁ vayam asmān vā nihanyāt kapiketanaḥ | taṁ cālam iti manyante savyasācivadhe dhṛtāḥ ||
Duryodhana sagte: „Entweder könnte Arjuna, der mit dem Affenbanner, uns erschlagen, oder wir könnten ihn erschlagen. Doch die, die fest entschlossen sind, Savyasācin zu töten, meinen: ‚Das genügt.‘“
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fixation on a single objective—here, the desire to kill a famed opponent—can narrow judgment and foster overconfidence. It implicitly critiques the ethical blindness of valuing victory or personal glory over sober assessment and righteous conduct.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duryodhana speaks about Arjuna’s threat and stature. He notes the stark possibilities—either Arjuna kills them or they kill Arjuna—while observing that some among his side, determined to slay Arjuna (Savyasācin), treat that aim alone as ‘sufficient,’ revealing their hardened resolve and bravado.