Shloka 293

Devanagari script

स्वार्थहेतो: पराक्रान्तौ दुर्योधनयुधिष्ठिरी । शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले वे दोनों कुरुवंशी वीर दुर्योधन और युधिष्ठिर अपने-अपने स्वार्थके लिये युद्धमें पराक्रम प्रकट करते हुए एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये

Transliteration

svārtha-hetoḥ parākrāntau duryodhana-yudhiṣṭhirī | śatrūṇāṃ damana-karṇe vāle te ubhau kuru-vaṃśī vīrau duryodhanaḥ yudhiṣṭhiraś ca sva-sva svārthāya yuddhe parākramaṃ prakaṭayantaḥ parasparaṃ samabhidudruvuḥ

Translation

Sanjaya said: Driven by their own self-interest, Duryodhana and Yudhiṣṭhira—both Kuru-born heroes, subduers of foes—displayed their prowess on the battlefield for their respective aims and closed in upon one another, engaging in direct combat.

Word by Word

• स्वार्थहेतोः: for the sake of (their) own interest
• स्वार्थहेतोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थहेतु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पराक्रान्तौ: two valiant (ones)
• पराक्रान्तौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराक्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• दुर्योधनयुधिष्ठिरी: Duryodhana and Yudhiṣṭhira
• दुर्योधनयुधिष्ठिरी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन-युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Duryodhana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kuru lineage
• battlefield (yuddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how personal interest (svārtha) can become a powerful driver even for celebrated figures, intensifying conflict and testing dharma. It invites reflection on motive: valor in war is not ethically neutral, and intention—duty versus self-serving gain—shapes the moral weight of action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Duryodhana and Yudhiṣṭhira, both formidable Kuru warriors, advance toward each other in battle. Each seeks to secure his own objective in the war, and they meet head-on, displaying martial prowess as they engage directly.