Shloka 14
Nārada’s Visit at Indraprastha and Counsel on Concord; Introduction to Sundopasunda–Tilottamā
ते जानानास्तु दौर्बल्यं भीमसेनमृते महत् । अस्मान् बलवतो ज्ञात्वा न यतिष्यन्ति दुर्बला:,भीमसेनके बिना अपनी बहुत बड़ी दुर्बलताका अनुभव करके वे दुर्बल पाण्डव हमें अपनेसे बलवान् जानकर राज्य लेनेका प्रयत्न नहीं करेंगे
te jānānāstu daurbalyaṃ bhīmasenamṛte mahat | asmān balavato jñātvā na yatiṣyanti durbalāḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “Realizing their great weakness when Bhīmasena is absent, those feeble Pāṇḍavas—knowing us to be the stronger—will not even attempt to strive for the kingdom.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how reliance on perceived power and the opponent’s vulnerability can breed arrogance and unethical political confidence; it implicitly warns that judging dharma by strength alone leads toward adharma.
Duryodhana is assessing the Pāṇḍavas’ capacity to challenge for the kingdom, reasoning that without Bhīma they will feel too weak to make any attempt, since they will regard the Kauravas as stronger.