Shloka 38
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
इन महातपस्वी नारदजीने उस समय भगवान् विष्णुके माहात्म्यको प्रत्यक्ष देखा था। वे चक्र और गदा धारण करनेवाले भगवान् विष्णु ही ये “श्रीकृष्ण' हैं ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | duryodhanas tu tac chrutvā niḥśvasan bhṛkuṭīmukhaḥ | rādheyam abhisamprekṣya jahāsa svanavat tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing those words, Duryodhana—breathing heavily, his face tightened into a frown—looked toward Rādheya (Karna) and then burst into loud laughter. The moment underscores how pride and denial can answer sacred testimony not with reflection, but with scorn and bravado on the eve of ruin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical failure: when confronted with weighty counsel or sacred testimony, a mind ruled by pride responds with anger and mockery rather than self-examination. Such reactions harden adharma and accelerate downfall.
After hearing the preceding statement, Duryodhana becomes visibly tense—sighing and frowning—then turns to Karṇa (Rādheya) and laughs loudly, signaling defiance and seeking reinforcement from his ally.