Shloka 31
Duryodhana’s Account of Gandharva Defeat and the Pandavas’ Intervention (दुर्योधनवर्णितो गन्धर्वसंग्रामः)
निशम्य तद् वचन पार्थिवस्य दुर्योधनं रहिते सौबलो5थ । अबोधयत् कर्णमुपेत्य सर्व स चाप्यह्ृष्टो>भवदल्पचेता:,एकान्तमें कही हुई राजा धृतराष्ट्रकी उपर्युक्त सारी बातें सुनकर सुबलपुत्र शकुनिने दुर्योधन और कर्णके पास जाकर ज्यों-की-त्यों कह सुनायी। इससे मन्दमति दुर्योधन उदास एवं चिन्तित हो गया
niśamya tad vacanaṃ pārthivasya duryodhanaṃ rahite saubalo ’tha | abodhayat karṇam upetya sarvaṃ sa cāpy ahṛṣṭo ’bhavad alpacetāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having heard those words of the king, Śakuni, son of Subala, met Duryodhana in private and reported everything exactly as it had been said; he also approached Karṇa and informed him. Hearing it, the small-minded Duryodhana became joyless—sinking into dejection and anxious thought, for counsel rooted in restraint and duty did not please his ambition.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When counsel grounded in restraint and duty confronts unchecked ambition, the unethical mind often reacts with displeasure rather than reform. The verse highlights how inner disposition (alpacetā—small-mindedness) determines whether one receives wise advice as guidance or as an obstacle.
Śakuni privately meets Duryodhana and then Karṇa, relaying Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s message exactly. On hearing it, Duryodhana is not pleased; he becomes gloomy and worried, indicating that the king’s words run against his plans.