Shloka 10
धार्तराष्ट्रा दुराधर्षा दुर्योधनपुरोगमा: । सर्व एव कृतास्त्राश्न सततं चाततायिन:,भूरिश्रवा, शल, पराक्रमी जलसंध, भीष्म, द्रोण, कर्ण, बलवान् अश्व॒त्थामा तथा सदाके आततायी दुर्योधन आदि दुर्धर्ष धृतराष्ट्रपत्न--ये सभी अस्त्र-विद्याके ज्ञाता हैं एवं हमने जिन राजाओं तथा भूमिपालोंको युद्धमें कष्ट पहुँचाया है, वे सभी कौरवपक्षमें मिल गये हैं और उधर ही उनका स्नेह हो गया है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | dhārtarāṣṭrā durādharṣā duryodhana-purogamāḥ | sarva eva kṛtāstrāś ca satataṃ cātatāyinaḥ | bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ parākrāmī jalaṃdhaḥ bhīṣmaḥ droṇaḥ karṇaḥ balavān aśvatthāmā tathā | sadā ca ātātāyī duryodhanādayaḥ durdharṣāḥ |
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, led by Duryodhana, are hard to assail. All of them are trained in weapons and are ever bent on aggression. Bhūriśravas, Śala, the valiant Jalaṃdha, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa, and the mighty Aśvatthāmā—together with Duryodhana and others—are constant assailants and formidable. Moreover, the kings and rulers whom we have previously troubled in war have now joined the Kaurava side; their affection has turned toward them.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical and strategic warning: when opponents are both highly trained and driven by aggressive intent (ātatāyin), conflict escalates beyond ordinary rivalry. It also highlights how past actions in war create lasting political consequences—injured rulers may shift loyalty, altering the moral and practical landscape.
Yudhiṣṭhira assesses the Kaurava camp: Duryodhana leads a formidable coalition of renowned warriors (Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāmā, etc.). He notes that many kings previously antagonized by the Pāṇḍavas have now aligned with the Kauravas, their allegiance and affection turning to that side.