Shloka 32
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
सम्बन्धिनस्ते भ्रातृश्च सहायान् मातुलांस्तथा | सर्वान् विक्रम्प मिषतो लोकमाक्रम्य मूर्थनि,“राजन! तुम्हारे सम्बन्धी, भाई, सहायक और मामा सब-के-सब देख रहे थे तो भी अर्जुनने उन सबको अपने पराक्रमद्वारा परास्त करके सब लोगोंके मस्तकपर पैर रखकर जयद्रथको मार डाला। अब और कौन बचा है जिसका हम भरोसा करें? यहाँ कौन ऐसा पुरुष है जो पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनपर विजय पायेगा?
saṃbandhinaste bhrātṛśca sahāyān mātulāṃstathā | sarvān vikramya miṣato lokamākramya mūrdhani ||
Sañjaya dijo: «¡Oh rey! Aunque tus parientes—tus hermanos, tus aliados y tus tíos maternos—lo estaban presenciando todo, Arjuna los doblegó a todos con su valor y, como quien pisa las cabezas de los hombres al avanzar, dio muerte a Jayadratha. ¿Quién queda ahora en quien podamos confiar? ¿Quién aquí es el hombre capaz de vencer a Arjuna, hijo de Pāṇḍu?»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the collapse of reliance on mere numbers, kinship, or alliances when confronted with exceptional prowess aligned with a determined vow. Ethically, it underscores the harsh reality of war: confidence based on social bonds and military presence can fail, and a king must assess strength and dharma-based resolve rather than depend on attachment or complacency.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, despite being opposed by Duryodhana’s relatives, brothers, allies, and maternal uncles who were watching, broke through them and killed Jayadratha. Sañjaya then voices the Kauravas’ growing hopelessness, asking who could still be trusted to defeat Arjuna.