Shloka 3
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 73 — Kr̥ṣṇa’s Appraisal of Bhīma’s Altered Temper and Reaffirmation of Martial Resolve
प्रकृत्या पापसत्त्वश्न तुल्यचेतास्तु दस्युभि: । ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तश्न कृतवैरश्न पाण्डवै:
prakṛtyā pāpasattvaś ca tulyacetāstu dasyubhiḥ | aiśvaryamadamattas ca kṛtavairaś ca pāṇḍavaiḥ ||
Duryodhana es malvado por naturaleza; su mente es tan cruel como la de los bandidos. Embriagado por el orgullo del poder y la prosperidad, se ha atado deliberadamente a una enemistad perdurable con los Pāṇḍavas, guiado por la arrogancia y la hostilidad, no por el dharma.
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner disposition (prakṛti) and pride born of power (aiśvarya-mada) can corrupt judgment, producing cruelty and entrenched hostility. Ethically, it warns that arrogance and willful enmity are adharma and lead toward destructive conflict.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and rising tensions, Bhīma speaks forcefully about Duryodhana’s character, portraying him as inherently wicked, cruel like bandits, and intoxicated by sovereignty—thereby explaining why reconciliation with the Pāṇḍavas is difficult.