Shloka 45
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
कस्मादशक्ता निर्जेतुमिति हेतुर्न विद्यते । राजाओंकी समस्त सेना एकमात्र अर्जुनको परास्त करनेमें असमर्थ कैसे होगी? इसके लिये कोई कारण नहीं है | ४४ इ || शयव्रातैस्तु भीष्मेण शतशो निचितोडवश:
kasmād aśaktā nirjetum iti hetur na vidyate |
Dijo Duryodhana: «No hay razón válida para que no podamos derrotarlo. ¿Cómo podría el ejército unido de tantos reyes ser incapaz de vencer a Arjuna, él solo? No existe causa para tal impotencia.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and overconfidence can dismiss real constraints and moral complexities. Duryodhana frames inability as irrational, revealing a mindset that equates numerical strength with inevitable victory, a common ethical blind spot in war leadership.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duryodhana argues that the Kauravas, supported by many kings and a vast army, should not fear Arjuna. He rejects any excuse for failure and pushes a confident, confrontational stance toward the coming conflict.