Mahabharata 3.263.23 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 263, Shloka 23
Jatāyu’s Resistance, Sītā’s Traces, Kabandha’s Release, and the Path to Sugrīva (Āraṇyaka-parva 263)
तथा करिष्ये त्वत्प्रीत्येत्येवमुक्त्वा सुयोधनम्
tathā kariṣye tvat-prītyety evam uktvā suyodhanam, durvāsā vipra-varaḥ yathā āgataḥ tathāiva jagāma; tadā duryodhanaḥ svayam ātmānaṃ kṛtārthaṃ mene.
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Out of affection for you, I will do exactly so.” Having spoken thus to Suyodhana, the eminent brahmin Durvāsā departed just as he had come. At that moment Duryodhana considered himself fully successful—satisfied that his purpose had been achieved, and confident in the advantage gained through the sage’s favor.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the pursuit of advantage through pleasing powerful ascetics can inflate pride and a sense of triumph. Ethically, it points to the danger of mistaking short-term success or external favor for true dharmic accomplishment.
Durvāsā assures Duryodhana that he will act out of affection for him, then departs. Duryodhana, interpreting this assurance as a decisive gain, feels his objective has been fulfilled and regards himself as successful.
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