Shloka 5
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
ते युधिष्ठिरमासीनमजि नै: प्रतिवासितम् | कृष्णप्रधाना: संहत्य पर्युपासन्त भारत
te yudhiṣṭhiram āsīnam araṇye pratīvāsitam | kṛṣṇapradhānāḥ saṃhatya paryupāsanta bhārata bhārata |
Dijo Duryodhana: «Aquellos reyes, con Kṛṣṇa como jefe, se reunieron y se acercaron a Yudhiṣṭhira, que vivía en el bosque, sentado allí con porte de asceta. Sentándose junto a él, hablaron con la resolución de arrancarte de raíz a ti y a tus parientes, declarando: “Es nuestro deber recuperar el reino de la mano de Dhṛtarāṣṭra.”»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between rightful sovereignty and political ambition: appeals to “duty” (kartavya) can be used to justify aggressive aims, so dharma must be tested by intention, fairness, and the means employed—not merely by slogans of legitimacy.
Duryodhana describes a group of rulers, led by Kṛṣṇa, approaching the exiled Yudhiṣṭhira in the forest and sitting near him to speak; he frames their purpose as seeking to reclaim the kingdom from Dhṛtarāṣṭra, while also implying hostile intent toward Duryodhana and his kin.