Shloka 9
गान्धायुवाच ऐश्वर्यकाम दुष्टात्मन् वृद्धानां शासनातिग । ऐश्वर्यजीविते हित्वा पितरं मां च बालिश,गान्धारी बोली--दुष्टात्मा दुर्योधन! तू ऐश्वर्यकी इच्छा रखकर अपने बड़े-बूढ़ोंकी आज्ञाका उल्लंघन करता है! अरे मूर्ख! इस ऐश्वर्य, जीवन, पिता और मुझ माताको भी त्यागकर शत्रुओंकी प्रसन्नता और मेरा शोक बढ़ाता हुआ जब तू भीमसेनके हाथों मारा जायगा, उस समय तुझे पिताकी बातें याद आयेंगी
gāndhāry uvāca—aiśvaryakāma duṣṭātman vṛddhānāṃ śāsanātiga | aiśvaryajīvite hitvā pitaraṃ māṃ ca bāliśa, śatrūṇāṃ prītivardhanaṃ mama śokavivardhanam | yadā tvaṃ bhīmasenasya hastair nihato bhaviṣyasi tadā te pituḥ vacanāni smariṣyasi ||
Gandhari said: “O Duryodhana, craving power, wicked at heart, you transgress the commands of your elders. Foolish one—clinging to sovereignty and life, you cast aside your father and even me, your mother, and you increase the enemies’ delight while deepening my grief. When you are slain by Bhimasena’s hands, then you will remember your father’s words.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Craving for power that disregards elders’ counsel and moral restraint leads to ruin; true welfare lies in heeding dharmic guidance, not in pursuing sovereignty at the cost of family, conscience, and social order.
Gandhari admonishes her son Duryodhana for violating the instructions of elders (especially Dhritarashtra’s counsel), warning that his obstinacy will increase the enemies’ joy and her sorrow, and foretelling that he will be slain by Bhima—after which he will finally recall his father’s words.