Shloka 68
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
एतत् सर्व समाज्ञाय बलाग्रयं मम भारत । न्यूनतां पाण्डवानां च न मोहं गन्तुमरहसि,भरतनन्दन! इन सभी दृष्टियोंसे मेरा बल अधिक है और पाण्डवोंका बहुत कम है, यह जानकर आप व्याकुल एवं अधीर न हों
etat sarvaṃ samājñāya balāgryaṃ mama bhārata | nyūnatāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca na mohaṃ gantum arhasi bharatanandana ||
Duryodhana said: “O Bhārata, having understood all this—that my army is superior and that the Pāṇḍavas’ strength is comparatively small—you should not give way to confusion or sink into anxious hesitation, O joy of the Bharata line.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how appeals to numerical or apparent strength can be used to suppress moral hesitation; it warns, by implication, that confidence based solely on power may foster moha (deluded certainty) rather than dharmic discernment.
Duryodhana addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra, urging him not to be anxious or wavering, claiming that the Kaurava forces are superior and that the Pāṇḍavas are comparatively weaker, thereby encouraging resolve for the coming conflict.