Shloka 1
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके १६ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल १२३ “लोक हैं) भ्न्ैमा+ () अिमनने पञ्चपज्चाशत्तमो< ध्याय: दुर्योधनका धृतराष्ट्रको उकसाना दुर्योधन उवाच यस्य नास्ति निजा प्रज्ञा केवलं तु बहुश्रुतः । न स जानाति शान््त्रार्थ दर्वी सूपरसानिव
duryodhana uvāca | yasya nāsti nijā prajñā kevalaṃ tu bahuśrutaḥ | na sa jānāti śāstrārthaṃ darvī sūparasān iva ||
Duryodhana said: “Father, one who lacks his own discerning intelligence, even if he has merely heard much of the scriptures, cannot grasp their true purport—just as a ladle, though it may be immersed in soup, does not taste its flavor.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mere accumulation of scriptural hearing or learning (bahuśrutatva) is insufficient without one’s own discernment (nijā prajñā). True understanding requires internal insight; otherwise, one remains like a ladle that contacts soup but cannot taste its essence.
Duryodhana addresses his father Dhṛtarāṣṭra with a pointed maxim, implying that without independent judgment one cannot understand the real intent of śāstra. In context, this functions as a rhetorical prod meant to influence Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s stance and decision-making.