Shloka 23

Daitya-āśvāsana of Duryodhana; Karṇa’s assurance and the mobilization of the Kaurava host

Devanagari script

अनुज्ञातस्तु गान्धारि: कर्णेन सहितस्तदा । निर्यया भरतश्रेष्ठो बलेन महता वृतः,धृतराष्ट्रकी आज्ञा पाकर गान्धारीपुत्र भरतश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधन कर्ण और विशाल सेनाके साथ नगरसे बाहर निकला

Transliteration

anujñātas tu gāndhāriḥ karṇena sahitas tadā | niryayā bharataśreṣṭho balena mahatā vṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having received permission, the foremost of the Bharatas—Gāndhārī’s son (Duryodhana)—then set out, accompanied by Karṇa and surrounded by a great army.

Word by Word

अनुज्ञातःhaving been permitted / permitted

तुbut / indeed

गान्धारिःthe Gandhāra prince (Duryodhana)

कर्णेनwith Karṇa

सहितःaccompanied (by)

तदाthen

निर्ययौwent out / departed

भरतश्रेष्ठःbest of the Bharatas

बलेनwith an army/force

महताgreat / large

वृतःsurrounded / accompanied

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Gāndhārī

Duryodhana

Karṇa

army (bala)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of sanctioned power: when a prince acts with the permission of elders and the backing of an army, the responsibility for consequences becomes heavier, and political decisions must be measured against dharma, not merely authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

After receiving authorization (implicitly from Dhṛtarāṣṭra), Duryodhana—identified as Gāndhārī’s son—departs from the city/camp with Karṇa and a large military force, indicating a deliberate, organized move in the unfolding conflict.