Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 19
शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्
Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally
दुर्योधनं महाराज वचन वचनक्षम: । महाराज! तब प्रवचनपटु गान्धारराजपुत्र शकुनिने दुर्योधनसे यह बात कही-- ।। १८ *॥ कि नः सम्प्रेक्षमाणानां मद्राणां हन्यते बलम्
sañjaya uvāca |
duryodhanaṃ mahārāja vacana-vacana-kṣamaḥ |
mahārāja! tadā pravacana-paṭuḥ gāndhāra-rāja-putraḥ śakunir duryodhanam idaṃ vacanam abravīt— ||
kiṃ naḥ samprekṣamāṇānāṃ madrāṇāṃ hanyate balam ||
Sañjaya said: O King, then Śakuni—the eloquent son of the Gandhāra ruler, skilled in speech and counter-speech—addressed Duryodhana: “While we stand here watching, is the strength of the Madras to be destroyed?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights responsibility in collective action: when allies are being harmed, passive spectatorship becomes a moral failure. Leadership and loyalty demand timely intervention rather than detached watching.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Shakuni, noted for persuasive speech, addresses Duryodhana with a pointed question—why the Madra forces are being destroyed while they merely look on—urging Duryodhana toward action.
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