Shloka 60
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
पार्थिवा: स भवांस्तेभ्यो हकस्माद् व्यथते कथम् | परंतप! द्रोणाचार्य
pārthivāḥ sa bhavāṁs tebhyo hakasmād vyathate katham | paraṁtapa! droṇācārya, aśvatthāmā aura kṛpācārya bhī unhīṅke samān mahādhanurdhara haiṅ | inke sivā ‘saṁśaptaka’ nāmaka kṣatriyoṅke samūha bhī mere hī pakṣa meṅ haiṅ; jo yaha kahate haiṅ ki yā to ham log arjunako mār ḍāleṅge yā kapidhvaja arjuna hī hameṅ mār ḍālegā, tabhī hamāre-unke yuddha kī samāpti hogī | ve sab nareśa arjunake vadhakā dṛḍha niścaya kara chuke haiṅ aura uske liye apane-ko paryāpta samajhate haiṅ | aisī daśā meṅ āpa un pāṇḍavoṅse bhayabhīta ho akasmāt vyathita kyoṅ ho uṭhate haiṅ? ||
Duryodhana dijo: «Oh rey, ¿por qué de pronto desfalleces ante esos soberanos? ¡Oh abrasador de enemigos! Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā y Kṛpa son arqueros poderosos, iguales a ellos. Además, el grupo de kṣatriyas llamado Saṁśaptaka está de mi lado: hombres que han jurado que o ellos matarán a Arjuna, o Arjuna, el del estandarte del mono, los matará; sólo entonces terminará su combate. Esos reyes han resuelto con firmeza la muerte de Arjuna y se juzgan plenamente suficientes para ello. En tal situación, ¿por qué, temiendo a los Pāṇḍava, te afliges de improviso?»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how leaders use rhetoric—invoking allies, reputations, and solemn vows—to counter fear and restore resolve. Ethically, it shows the Kshatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle, but also exposes Duryodhana’s reliance on pride and overconfidence rather than self-scrutiny or reconciliation.
In Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Duryodhana addresses a wavering ally/king, arguing that the Kaurava side has formidable champions (Drona, Ashvatthama, Kripa) and the Saṁśaptakas who have sworn to fight Arjuna to the death; therefore, he questions why the listener is suddenly anxious about the Pāṇḍavas.