Shloka 14
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
प्रणिपाते न दोषो5स्ति सन्धिर्न: शाश्वती: समा: । पितरं त्वेव शोचामि प्रज्ञानेत्र जनाधिपम्,(मैं समझता हूँ.) इस समय नतमस्तक हो जानेमें कोई दोष नहीं है। इससे हमलोगोंमें सदाके लिये शान्ति हो जायगी, केवल अपने प्रज्ञाचक्षु पिता महाराज धृतराष्ट्रके लिये ही मुझे शोक हो रहा है
praṇipāte na doṣo 'sti sandhir naḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | pitaraṃ tv eva śocāmi prajñānetraṃ janādhipam ||
Duryodhana said: “There is no fault in bowing down at this moment. By doing so, a lasting peace for many years can be secured between us. Yet I grieve only for my father—the lord of men, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—whose ‘eye’ is wisdom.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames humility (praṇipāta) as not inherently shameful when it serves a higher good—ending conflict through a durable peace. It also highlights a moral tension: political reconciliation may be possible, yet personal sorrow remains for a father-king whose guiding ‘vision’ is wisdom.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Duryodhana speaks about the possibility of bowing or yielding at a critical moment to secure a long-term settlement. Even while acknowledging the value of peace, he expresses grief specifically for his father Dhṛtarāṣṭra, described as ‘wisdom-eyed,’ indicating concern for the king’s situation amid the crisis.