Shloka 31
Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense
Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha
व्यक्तं मे कथयिष्यन्ति हसन्त्यो भ्रातृजामय: । क्लैब्यं कथं कथं वीर तवान्यै: कथ्यतां मृधे ॥ ३१ ॥
vyaktaṁ me kathayiṣyanti hasantyo bhrātṛ-jāmayaḥ klaibyaṁ kathaṁ kathaṁ vīra tavānyaiḥ kathyatāṁ mṛdhe
Surely my sisters-in-law will laugh at me and say, “O hero, tell us—how did your enemies make you such a coward in battle?”
FAQs
This verse shows how obsession with reputation and ridicule can drive a person’s decisions; Duryodhana fears being mocked and labeled “unmanly,” revealing bondage to pride rather than clarity of dharma.
Duryodhana speaks in anxiety about public shame—especially mockery from his sisters-in-law—addressing a “hero” (vīra) to press the point that cowardice in battle would become a lasting scandal.
It warns against making choices from fear of social judgment; instead of acting for image, one should act from integrity, duty, and higher spiritual purpose.