Shloka 13
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
अमर्षण: सवा: प्रकृतीरभिभूय परं स्थित: । क्लेशान् मुमुक्षु: परजान् स वै पुरुष उच्यते
amarṣaṇaḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtīr abhibhūya paraṁ sthitaḥ | kleśān mumukṣuḥ parājān sa vai puruṣa ucyate ||
Dijo Duryodhana: «De veras se llama hombre aquel que, guardando un rencor inflexible contra sus enemigos, somete a todas las fuerzas contrarias y se mantiene firme en la supremacía; y que procura librar a su propio pueblo de los sufrimientos infligidos por los adversarios.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘true manhood’ in political-ethical terms: firmness against enemies, the capacity to subdue hostile forces, and a ruler’s intention to relieve his own people from enemy-caused suffering—an ideal of protective kingship (rājadharma), though voiced in a martial, uncompromising tone.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is articulating a standard of strength and rulership: a leader should not tolerate enemy aggression, should defeat opponents, and should aim to secure the welfare of his subjects by removing the hardships imposed by adversaries.