Shloka 9
उद्योगपर्व — धृतराष्ट्रस्य दुर्योधनप्रति शक्तिस्मारक-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva 63: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel Reminding Duryodhana of Opponent Strength
तौ युध्यमानौ संरब्धौ मृत्युपाशवशानुगौ । उपसृत्यापरिज्ञातो जग्राह मृगहा तदा,जब मौततके फंदेमें फँसे हुए वे पक्षी अत्यन्त कुपित होकर एक-दूसरेसे लड़ रहे थे, उसी समय व्याधने चुपचाप उनके पास आकर उन दोनोंको पकड़ लिया
tau yudhyamānau saṃrabdhau mṛtyupāśavaśānugau | upasṛtyāparijñāto jagrāha mṛgahā tadā ||
Those two, fighting each other in blind fury, were already under Death’s noose. Then the hunter, approaching unnoticed, seized them both. The lesson is plain: when anger and mutual conflict consume one, one becomes easy prey to a third—self-control and discernment safeguard life and dharma.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Uncontrolled anger and mutual quarrel make one vulnerable; while opponents are absorbed in fighting, an unseen third force can overpower both. Vidura uses this to urge restraint, vigilance, and wise conflict-avoidance in the face of larger dangers.
Two creatures (implied birds in the surrounding story) are trapped in a death-snare and, instead of cooperating, they fight each other in rage. A hunter approaches unnoticed and captures them both, illustrating how infighting leads to shared ruin.