Shloka 13
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
अमर्षण: सवा: प्रकृतीरभिभूय परं स्थित: । क्लेशान् मुमुक्षु: परजान् स वै पुरुष उच्यते,जो शत्रुओंके प्रति अमर्ष रख उन्हें पराजित करके विश्राम लेता है और अपनी प्रजाको शत्रुजनित क्लेशसे छुड़ानेकी इच्छा करता है, वही पुरुष कहलाता है
amarṣaṇaḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtīr abhibhūya paraṁ sthitaḥ | kleśān mumukṣuḥ parājān sa vai puruṣa ucyate ||
Duryodhana said: “He is truly called a man who, keeping an unyielding resentment toward his enemies, overpowers all opposing forces and then stands firm in supremacy; and who seeks to free his own people from the sufferings inflicted by foes.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘true manhood’ in political-ethical terms: firmness against enemies, the capacity to subdue hostile forces, and a ruler’s intention to relieve his own people from enemy-caused suffering—an ideal of protective kingship (rājadharma), though voiced in a martial, uncompromising tone.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is articulating a standard of strength and rulership: a leader should not tolerate enemy aggression, should defeat opponents, and should aim to secure the welfare of his subjects by removing the hardships imposed by adversaries.