Shloka 12
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
दुर्योधनस्तु कौरव्यो नामर्षयत लड्घनम् । प्रत्यषेधच्च तां कन्यामसत्कृत्य नराधिपान्,कुरुवंशी दुर्योधनको यह सहन नहीं हुआ कि राजकन्या उसे लाँघकर अन्यत्र जाय। उसने समस्त नरेशोंका अपमान करके उसे वहीं रोक लिया
duryodhanas tu kauravyo nāmarṣayata laṅghanam | pratyaṣedhac ca tāṃ kanyām asatkṛtya narādhipān |
Nārada said: But Duryodhana of the Kuru line could not endure the slight of being passed over. Disregarding the assembled kings and insulting them, he forcibly prevented that princess from going elsewhere. The episode shows how wounded pride and contempt for royal propriety (dharma) can drive a ruler into unethical coercion and the public dishonor of others.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked pride and intolerance of perceived insult can lead a ruler to violate dharma—disrespecting others and using coercion—thereby sowing wider conflict and moral downfall.
Nārada narrates that Duryodhana, unable to bear being passed over, stops a princess from going elsewhere and, in doing so, insults the other kings present.