Shloka 23
तेन तत् संवृतं दृष्टवा ते राजपरिचारका: । प्रतिजग्मुस्ततो राजन् यत्र दुर्योधनो नूप:,राजन्! उस सरोवरको गन्धर्वराजने घेर रखा है, यह देखकर वे राजसेवक जहाँ राजा दुर्योधन था, वहाँ लौट गये। जनमेजय! अपने सेवकोंका कथन सुनकर राजा दुर्योधनने युद्धके लिये उन्मत्त रहनेवाले सैनिकोंको यह आदेश देकर भेजा कि “गन्धर्वोको वहाँसे मार भगाओ'
tena tat saṃvṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā te rājaparicārakāḥ | pratijagmustato rājan yatra duryodhano nṛpaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Seeing that the lake had been enclosed and guarded by the king of the Gandharvas, the royal attendants returned, O king, to the place where King Duryodhana was.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a factual report (the lake being guarded) can become fuel for ego-driven retaliation. Ethically, it points to the danger of letting pride and anger dictate action, as such impulses tend to escalate conflict and lead to avoidable harm.
The king’s attendants see that the lake is surrounded by the Gandharva king’s forces. They return to Duryodhana and report what they saw, setting up Duryodhana’s subsequent decision to respond with force.