Shloka 4
परनेयोडग्रणीर्यस्य स मार्गान् प्रति मुहृति । पन्थानमनुगच्छेयु: कथं तस्य पदानुगा:
paraneyodagraṇīr yasya sa mārgān prati muhūrtī | panthānam anugaccheyuḥ kathaṁ tasya padānugāḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “If a leader himself is guided by another’s counsel, he becomes repeatedly bewildered about the very paths he should take. How, then, can those who follow in his footsteps keep to a steady course?”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader who lacks independent discernment and is constantly swayed by others becomes confused about the right course; such instability harms the community, because followers cannot maintain a clear path when the guide himself is uncertain.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is speaking in a politically charged setting and argues about the necessity of firm, self-possessed leadership; he frames dependence on others’ intellect as a cause of repeated delusion, which then misleads one’s followers.