Shloka 13
Adhyāya 48 — Duryodhana’s Account of Tribute and the Provisioned Court (सभा पर्व, अध्याय ४८)
दुर्योधन उवाच त्वया च सहितो राजजन्ेतैश्षान्यैर्महारथै: । एतानेव विजेष्यामि यदि त्वमनुमन्यसे,दुर्योधनने कहा--राजन्! यदि तुम्हारी अनुमति हो, तो तुम्हारे और इन द्रोण आदि अन्य महारथियोंके साथ इन पाण्डवोंको ही युद्धमें जीत लूँ। इनके पराजित हो जाने-पर अभी यह सारी पृथ्वी, समस्त भूपाल और वह महाधन-सम्पन्न सभा भी हमारे अधीन हो जायगी
duryodhana uvāca | tvayā ca sahito rājan etaiś cānyair mahārathaiḥ | etān eva vijeṣyāmi yadi tvam anumanyase ||
Duryodhana said: “O King, if you approve, then with you at my side—and with these other great chariot-warriors—I shall conquer these very Pāṇḍavas in battle. Once they are defeated, the whole earth, all the kings, and that immensely wealthy assembly-hall will at once come under our control.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how craving for power and possessions can drive one to seek moral cover through authority’s consent. Duryodhana frames aggression as contingent on the king’s approval, revealing the ethical danger of legitimizing unjust aims through formal permission.
Duryodhana addresses the king, proposing that, supported by him and other leading warriors, he will defeat the Pāṇḍavas in battle. He argues that their defeat will bring the earth, subordinate kings, and the wealthy assembly-hall under Kaurava control.