Shloka 26
उद्योगपर्व — गान्धारी-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva — Gandhārī’s Counsel to Duryodhana
विदुरं धृतराष्ट्र च महाराजं च बाह्विकम् । कृपं च सोमदत्तं च भीष्मं द्रोणं जनार्दनम्,भाईकी यह बात सुनकर धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधन अत्यन्त कुपित हो फुफकारते हुए महान् सर्पकी भाँति लंबी साँसें खींचता हुआ वहाँसे उठकर चल दिया। वह दुर्बुद्धि, निर्लज्ज, अशिष्ट पुरुषोंकी भाँति मर्यादाशून्य, अभिमानी तथा माननीय पुरुषोंका अपमान करनेवाला था। वह विदुर, धृतराष्ट्र,, महाराज बाह्लीक, कृपाचार्य, सोमदत्त, भीष्म, द्रोणाचार्य और भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण--इन सबका अनादर करके वहाँसे चल पड़ा
viduraṁ dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ ca mahārājaṁ ca bāhlīkam | kṛpaṁ ca somadattaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ droṇaṁ janārdanam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: (Duryodhana) showed contempt for Vidura, for Dhṛtarāṣṭra, for the aged king Bāhlīka, for Kṛpa, for Somadatta, for Bhīṣma, for Droṇa, and even for Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). In doing so, he violated the bounds of propriety—spurning venerable elders and wise counselors—thereby revealing the ethical blindness that hastens ruin and drives the conflict toward war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disrespect toward elders, teachers, and righteous counsel is a sign of adharma and moral blindness. When pride overrides reverence and restraint, a leader cuts himself off from guidance, accelerating personal and political downfall.
Vaiśaṃpāyana lists the eminent figures present—Vidura, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bāhlīka, Kṛpa, Somadatta, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Kṛṣṇa—whom Duryodhana disregards. The verse functions as a pointed characterization: his contempt for authority and wisdom marks the breakdown of courtly decorum and foreshadows the slide into war.