Shloka 1
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
ऑपनआ कराता बा अं षट्पज्चाशर्दाधेकशततमो< ध्याय: दुर्योधनके द्वारा भीष्मजीका प्रधान सेनापतिके पदपर अभिषेक और कुरक्षेत्रमें पहुँचकर शिविर-निर्माण वैशम्पायन उवाच तत: शान्तनवं भीष्म प्राञ्जलिर्धुतराष्ट्रज: । सह सर्वर्महीपालैरिदं वचनमत्रवीत्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधन समस्त राजाओंके साथ शान्तनु-नन्दन भीष्मके पास जा हाथ जोड़कर इस प्रकार बोला--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tataḥ śāntanavaṁ bhīṣmaṁ prāñjalir dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ | saha sarvair mahīpālair idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son Duryodhana, with palms joined, approached Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, together with all the kings, and addressed him with these words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political power often seeks moral and social legitimacy through deference to elders and established authority. The respectful gesture (prāñjali) contrasts with the impending adharma of fratricidal war, underscoring the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between outward propriety and inner ethical choice.
After key preparations for conflict, Duryodhana, accompanied by allied kings, goes to Bhīṣma and respectfully addresses him. This introduces the ensuing request and decisions around leadership and command in the Kuru army as the war approaches.