Shloka 24
Dvārakāyāṃ Sāhāyya-vibhāgaḥ (Alliance Allocation at Dvārakā) / उद्योगपर्व अध्याय ७
कृष्णं चापद्वतं ज्ञात्वा सम्प्राप परमां मुदम् । दुर्योधनस्तु तत् सैन्यं सर्वमादाय पार्थिव:
kṛṣṇaṃ cāpadvataṃ jñātvā samprāpa paramāṃ mudam | duryodhanas tu tat sainyaṃ sarvam ādāya pārthivaḥ, janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana said: Knowing that Kṛṣṇa had been outwitted, King Duryodhana felt the height of joy. Then, O Janamejaya, the ruler took possession of that entire army. Delighted at having secured the warriors and believing Kṛṣṇa to have been deceived, Duryodhana’s confidence swelled—his strength now seemed formidable. This moment underscores how triumph rooted in cunning and acquisition can intoxicate the mind, even as it deepens the moral fault-lines that lead toward war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of rejoicing in success gained through perceived deception and mere acquisition of force. Such elation feeds pride and hardens adharma, accelerating the drift toward destructive conflict.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to Janamejaya that Duryodhana, thinking Kṛṣṇa has been outmaneuvered, becomes very pleased and takes the entire army for himself—an episode setting up the alignment of forces before the Kurukṣetra war.