Shloka 37
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु मां दृष्टया हसन् सात्यकिमब्रवीत् । किमनेन गृहीतेन नानेनार्थो5स्ति जीवता
dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu māṃ dṛṣṭvā hasan sātyakim abravīt | kim anena gṛhītena nānenārtho 'sti jīvatā ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing me held captive, Dhṛṣṭadyumna laughed and spoke to Sātyaki: “What is the use of keeping this man seized? So long as he lives, there is no advantage to be gained from him.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical fault-line in wartime: when victory becomes paramount, a captive may be judged only by utility. It implicitly invites reflection on dharma—whether the powerless should be protected regardless of strategic gain.
Sañjaya narrates that he is seen in captivity. Dhṛṣṭadyumna, laughing, tells Sātyaki that keeping the captive serves no purpose, since no benefit will come from letting him remain alive.