Shloka 10
उग्रधन्वा महेष्वासो दिव्यं विस्फारयन् धनु: । अग्रेभवं त्वां तु दृष्टवा नार्जुन: प्रहरिष्यति,आपको अग्रगामी सेनापतिके रूपमें देखकर भयंकर धनुष धारण करनेवाले महाधनुर्धर अर्जुन अपने दिव्य धनुषकी टंकार फैलाते हुए भी प्रहार नहीं करेंगे
ugradhanvā maheṣvāso divyaṃ visphārayan dhanuḥ | agre bhavaṃ tvāṃ tu dṛṣṭvā nārjunaḥ prahariṣyati ||
Duryodhana said: “Arjuna—fierce with his bow, a great archer—may be making his divine bow resound; yet on seeing you standing in front as the leading commander, he will not strike.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war is fought not only with weapons but also with morale and perception: Duryodhana attempts to project confidence and intimidate by claiming that even Arjuna’s famed prowess will falter before a strong, forward-positioned commander. Ethically, it reflects the tension between truthful assessment and manipulative rhetoric in a dharmic conflict.
In the Drona Parva, Duryodhana addresses his commander, praising and positioning him as the foremost leader. He asserts that Arjuna, though sounding his divine bow, will hesitate to attack upon seeing this commander at the front—an attempt to bolster his side’s confidence and frame the coming engagement.