Shloka 63
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
द्रौणिवैंकर्तन: कर्ण: सोमदत्तो5थ बाह्विक:ः । प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिप: शल्य आवन्त्यौ च जयद्रथ:
drauṇivaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ somadatto 'tha bāhvikaḥ | prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ śalya āvantyau ca jayadrathaḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman), Vaikartana Karṇa, Somadatta, and Bāhlīka; Śalya; the lord of Prāgjyotiṣa (Bhagadatta); the two princes of Avanti; and Jayadratha—these are the foremost on our side.” In this moment he gathers his war-counsel by naming mighty allies, showing how he leans on martial power and political coalitions as the ethical crisis of fratricidal war draws near.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, on the brink of adharma-driven conflict, leaders often lean on displays of strength and alliances. It implicitly contrasts external power (named warriors and kingdoms) with the inner ethical discernment that the epic repeatedly upholds as essential for righteous action.
In Udyoga Parva, as war preparations intensify, Duryodhana enumerates prominent champions and allied kings on the Kaurava side. This functions as a strategic and psychological assertion of confidence, framing the coming battle through the roster of renowned fighters.