Shloka 52
हर्षयन्निव तान् योधानिदं वचनमत्रवीत् । राजेन्द्र! उस समय आपके बुद्धिमान पुत्र महामनस्वी दुर्योधनने अपनी सेनाको जब बहुत दुःखी देखा, तब उन सबको सुस्थिर करके उनका हर्ष बढ़ाते हुए इस प्रकार कहा - [५१६ || नतं देशं प्रपश्यामि यत्र याता भयाद्दिता:
harṣayann iva tān yodhān idaṁ vacanam abravīt | rājendra! tadā tava buddhimān putro mahāmanasvī duryodhanaḥ svāṁ senāṁ bahu-duḥkhitāṁ dṛṣṭvā tān sarvān susthirīkṛtya teṣāṁ harṣaṁ vardhayann evaṁ uvāca |
Sañjaya said: As though gladdening those warriors, he spoke these words. O king, at that time your wise son, the high-souled Duryodhana, seeing his army greatly distressed, steadied them all and, increasing their courage and joy, addressed them in this manner.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a wartime leadership ethic: when one’s forces are shaken, a leader must first stabilize their minds and restore courage through timely speech. It foregrounds the power of words to shape collective resolve amid fear and grief.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Duryodhana, seeing the Kaurava troops distressed, reassures them and raises their spirits, preparing to address them with a motivating speech in the midst of the battle situation.