Shloka 35
अशक्तश्नैक एवाहं तामाहर्तु नृपश्रियम् । सहायांश्व न पश्यामि तेन मृत्युं विचिन्तये,मैं अकेला उस राजलक्ष्मीको हड़प लेनेमें असमर्थ हूँ और अपने पास योग्य सहायक नहीं देखता हूँ, इसीलिये मृत्युका चिन्तन करता हूँ
aśaktaś caika evāhaṁ tām āhartum nṛpaśriyam | sahāyāṁś ca na paśyāmi tena mṛtyuṁ vicintaye ||
Duryodhana said: “I alone am not capable of seizing that royal fortune and sovereignty. Nor do I see any competent allies at my side; therefore I brood upon death.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked desire for power, when not grounded in dharma and supported by worthy counsel, breeds inner weakness and despair. The verse highlights how fixation on seizing “royal fortune” can collapse into self-destructive thinking rather than ethical self-correction.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana voices frustration and helplessness about obtaining or dominating royal prosperity. Feeling unable to achieve his political aim and lacking capable supporters, he turns to thoughts of death—an emotional low point that signals his volatile state and foreshadows further harmful choices.