Shloka 53
अध्याय ९ — दुर्योधनस्य अन्त्यावस्था, विलापः, तथा सौप्तिक-प्रतिवृत्तम्
Duryodhana’s Final Condition, Lamentation, and the Night’s Report
दुर्योधनस्तु तां वाचं निशम्य मनस: प्रियाम् । प्रतिलभ्य पुनश्चेत इदं वचनमब्रवीत्,यह मनको प्रिय लगनेवाली बात सुनकर दुर्योधनको पुनः होश आ गया और वह इस प्रकार बोला--
duryodhanas tu tāṃ vācaṃ niśamya manasaḥ priyām | pratilabhya punaś ceta idam vacanam abravīt ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Al oír aquellas palabras, gratas a su corazón, Duryodhana recobró de nuevo la compostura y pronunció estas palabras.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the mind can be quickly stabilized by words that align with one’s desires. Ethically, it cautions that ‘pleasant’ counsel is not necessarily ‘right’ counsel: agreeable speech can restore confidence and determination even when one’s cause is morally compromised.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, after hearing a heart-pleasing statement (from the ongoing dialogue in this section), recovers his mental balance and prepares to speak. It functions as a narrative hinge: Duryodhana’s renewed composure leads into his next response.