Shloka 11
तस्यैतद् वचन श्रुत्वा हृष्टो दुर्योधनस्तदा । प्रतिगृह्माब्रवीद् वाक््यं भ्रातृभि: परिवारित:,“अत: आप अपनी सारी सेनाको रोक दीजिये। पाण्डवोंके साथ हमलोग युद्ध करेंगे।” उसकी यह बात सुनकर भाइयोंसे घिरे हुए राजा दुर्योधनको बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई। उसने अलायुधका प्रस्ताव स्वीकार करते हुए कहा--
tasyaitad vacanaṃ śrutvā hṛṣṭo duryodhanas tadā | pratigṛhya bravīd vākyaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ ||
Hearing those words, Duryodhana was delighted. Surrounded by his brothers, he accepted the proposal and replied: “Therefore, restrain your entire army. We ourselves will fight with the Pāṇḍavas.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how delight and pride can drive a leader to intensify conflict. Ethically, it invites reflection on restraint (saṃyama) versus escalation: choosing to ‘hold back the army’ yet insisting on direct combat shows determination, but also a will to continue war rather than seek peace.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, pleased after hearing a proposal, accepts it and speaks while surrounded by his brothers. He declares that the army should be restrained and that they will fight the Pāṇḍavas themselves—signaling readiness to proceed with battle under the accepted plan.