Shloka 17
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
ततो द्रोणो<ब्रवीद् भीष्म: कृपो द्रौणिश्न भारत । मत्वा मां महतीं चिन्तामास्थितं व्यथितेन्द्रियम्,भारत! मेरी यह बात सुनकर आचार्य द्रोण, पितामह भीष्म, कृपाचार्य तथा अश्व॒त्थामाने मुझे बड़ी भारी चिन्तामें पड़कर सम्पूर्ण इन्द्रियोंसे व्यथित हुआ जान आश्वासन देते हुए कहा--'परंतप! यदि शत्रुपक्षेके लोग हमसे द्रोह रखते हैं तो तुम्हें डरना नहीं चाहिये। शत्रुलोग युद्धमें उपस्थित होनेपर हमें जीतनेमें असमर्थ हैं
tato droṇo ’bravīd bhīṣmaḥ kṛpo drauṇiś ca bhārata | matvā māṃ mahatīṃ cintām āsthitaṃ vyathitendriyam ||
Then Droṇa spoke, and Bhīṣma, and Kṛpa, and Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman, O Bhārata. Seeing that I had fallen into great anxiety and that my senses were shaken, they reassured me: “O scorcher of foes, even if the men of the enemy side bear hostility toward us, you should not be afraid. When they come to battle, the enemy will be unable to defeat us.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a leadership moment: senior warriors attempt to steady a ruler’s shaken mind. Ethically, it shows how counsel can be used to strengthen resolve—here, toward war—by reframing fear as unnecessary and asserting confidence in one’s side.
Duryodhana is troubled and inwardly agitated. Observing his anxiety, Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, and Aśvatthāman speak to reassure him, telling him not to fear the enemy faction because they will not be able to defeat the Kauravas in battle.