Shloka 6
काकोपमोपदेशः
The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa
(सर्वसैन्यमुदीक्ष्यैव क्रोधादुद्वृत्तलोचन: । दृष्टवा धर्मसुतं चापि सैन्यमध्ये व्यवस्थितम् ।। श्रिया ज्वलन्तं कौन्तेयं यथा वज्रधरं युधि ।) दुर्योधन: समालक्ष्य धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्
sarvasainyam udīkṣyaiva krodhād udvṛttalocanaḥ | dṛṣṭvā dharmasutaṃ cāpi sainyamadhye vyavasthitam || śriyā jvalantaṃ kaunteyaṃ yathā vajradharaṃ yudhi | duryodhanaḥ samālakṣya dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ||
Sañjaya said: Duryodhana, after surveying the whole army, his eyes rolling with anger, beheld Dharma’s son Yudhiṣṭhira stationed amid the host—Kuntī’s son blazing with royal splendor, like Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, in battle. Thus did Duryodhana fix his gaze upon King Yudhiṣṭhira, lord of dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical contrast: anger-driven perception (Duryodhana’s wrath) confronts the radiance of dharma embodied in Yudhiṣṭhira. Even on a battlefield, true authority is portrayed as rooted in righteousness and inner steadiness, not in rage or envy.
Sañjaya describes Duryodhana scanning the armies and then noticing Yudhiṣṭhira standing prominently amid the troops, shining with majesty. Yudhiṣṭhira is compared to Indra in battle, emphasizing his commanding presence and the moral weight he carries as Dharmarāja.