Shloka 37
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
(अप्राप्य पाण्डवैश्वर्य शमो मम न विद्यते । अवाप्स्ये वा रणं बाणै: शयिष्ये वा हत: परै: ।। एतादृशस्य मे कि नु जीवितेन परंतप । वर्धन्ते पाण्डवा राजन् वयं हि स्थितवृद्धय: ।।) पाण्डवोंका ऐश्वर्य यदि मुझे नहीं प्राप्त हुआ तो मेरे मनको शान्ति नहीं मिलेगी। या तो मैं बाणोंद्वारा रण-भूमिमें उपस्थित होकर शत्रुओंकी सम्पत्तिपर अधिकार प्राप्त करूँगा या शत्रुओंद्वारा मारा जाकर संग्राममें सदाके लिये सो जाऊँगा। परंतप! ऐसी स्थितिमें मेरे इस जीवनसे क्या लाभ? पाण्डव दिनों-दिन बढ़ रहे हैं और हमारी उन्नति रुक गयी है। शकुनिरुवाच यामेतामतुलां लक्ष्मी दृष्टवानसि पाण्डवे | तस्या: प्राप्तावुपायं मे शृणु सत्यपराक्रम,शकुनिने दुर्योधनसे पुनः कहा--सत्यपराक्रमी दुर्योधन! तुमने पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरके यहाँ जो अनुपम लक्ष्मी देखी है, उसकी प्राप्तिका उपाय मुझसे सुनो
duryodhana uvāca |
aprāpya pāṇḍavaiśvaryaṃ śamo mama na vidyate |
avāpsye vā raṇaṃ bāṇaiḥ śayiṣye vā hataḥ paraiḥ ||
etādṛśasya me kiṃ nu jīvitena paraṃtapa |
vardhante pāṇḍavā rājan vayaṃ hi sthitavṛddhayaḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “If I do not obtain the sovereignty and splendor that belong to the Pāṇḍavas, there can be no peace for me. Either I shall win it on the battlefield with arrows, or, struck down by enemies, I shall lie there forever. O scorcher of foes, what use is life to me in such a state? The Pāṇḍavas grow stronger day by day, while our own advancement has come to a standstill.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how envy and fixation on another’s prosperity destroy inner peace: Duryodhana declares he cannot be calm unless he possesses the Pāṇḍavas’ royal fortune, even preferring death in battle to living without it. Ethically, it illustrates the adharma of covetousness and the self-destructive logic that fuels unjust conflict.
After witnessing the Pāṇḍavas’ grandeur, Duryodhana confesses his agitation and resolves either to seize their power through war or die trying. This emotional crisis sets the stage for counsel and plotting (notably Shakuni’s forthcoming strategy) that will lead toward the infamous gambling scheme and escalating hostility.