Shloka 226
Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption
दुर्योधनो महाराज राधेयमिदमब्रवीत् । महाराज! जब इस प्रकार अत्यन्त भयंकर संग्राम हो रहा था, उस समय दुर्योधनने राधापुत्र कर्णसे यों कहा--
sañjaya uvāca | duryodhano mahārāja rādhayam idam abravīt | mahārāja! yadi evaṃvidhaḥ atyanta-bhayaṅkaraḥ saṅgrāmo bhavati, tadā duryodhanena rādhāputraṃ karṇaṃ prati evaṃ uktam — |
Sañjaya dit : «Ô Roi, Duryodhana adressa ces paroles au fils de Rādhā (Karna). Ô grand souverain, tandis qu’une bataille d’une effroyable violence faisait rage, Duryodhana parla ainsi à Karna.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a pivotal wartime counsel: in moments of extreme violence and uncertainty, leaders seek decisive support from trusted allies. Ethically, it highlights how choices made amid fearsome conflict can steer one toward or away from dharma, depending on intent and means.
Sañjaya, reporting the battlefield events to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, introduces Duryodhana’s direct address to Karna during a terrifying phase of the battle, setting up the content of Duryodhana’s ensuing speech.