Shloka 12
महाव्यूहप्रवर्तनम् / Deployment of the Great Battle Arrays
“महानुभाव! तुम्हारे कार्यकी सिद्धिके लिये अब युद्धमें मुझे अपने जीवनकी रक्षा भी अत्यन्त आवश्यक नहीं जान पड़ती है। मैं तुम्हारे मनोरथकी सिद्धिके लिये देवताओंसहित समस्त भयंकर दैत्योंको भी दग्ध कर सकता हूँ; फिर शत्रुओंकी सेनाकी तो बात ही क्या है? ।।
sañjaya uvāca | mahānubhāva! tava kārya-siddhaye 'dya yuddhe mama jīvita-rakṣāpi nātyantaṁ āvaśyakī pratibhāti | ahaṁ tava manoratha-siddhaye devaiḥ saha sarvān bhayankarān daityān api dagdhuṁ śaknomi; punaḥ śatru-senāyāḥ tu kā kathā || tān pāṇḍavān yodhayisyāmi rājan priyaṁ ca te sarvam ahaṁ kariṣye | śrutvaiva caitad vacanaṁ tadānīṁ duryodhanaḥ prīta-manā babhūva ||
Sanjaya said: “O noble one! For the accomplishment of your purpose in this war, I no longer regard even the protection of my own life as of great importance. For the fulfillment of your desire, I could burn up even the terrifying Daityas together with the gods—what then to speak of the enemy’s army? O King, I shall fight those Pandavas, and I will do everything that is dear to you.” Hearing these words at that moment, Duryodhana’s heart became pleased.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension between personal safety and pledged duty: a warrior-leader declares readiness to risk life and to exert overwhelming force to fulfill a king’s desire. It illustrates how loyalty and martial resolve can be framed as virtue, even when the larger ethical outcome of the war remains contested.
Bhishma (reported by Sanjaya) reassures Duryodhana that he will fight the Pandavas and accomplish whatever Duryodhana considers dear, claiming power great enough to destroy even Daityas alongside the gods. Hearing this pledge, Duryodhana becomes pleased and encouraged.