Shloka 32
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
सम्बन्धिनस्ते भ्रातृश्च सहायान् मातुलांस्तथा | सर्वान् विक्रम्प मिषतो लोकमाक्रम्य मूर्थनि
saṃbandhinaste bhrātṛśca sahāyān mātulāṃstathā | sarvān vikramya miṣato lokamākramya mūrdhani ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô roi ! Bien que tes proches — tes frères, tes alliés et tes oncles maternels — fussent tous témoins, Arjuna les a tous terrassés par sa prouesse et, comme foulant les têtes des hommes, il a tué Jayadratha. Qui reste-t-il désormais sur qui nous puissions nous appuyer ? Quel homme ici pourrait remporter la victoire sur Arjuna, fils de Pāṇḍu ?»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the collapse of reliance on mere numbers, kinship, or alliances when confronted with exceptional prowess aligned with a determined vow. Ethically, it underscores the harsh reality of war: confidence based on social bonds and military presence can fail, and a king must assess strength and dharma-based resolve rather than depend on attachment or complacency.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, despite being opposed by Duryodhana’s relatives, brothers, allies, and maternal uncles who were watching, broke through them and killed Jayadratha. Sañjaya then voices the Kauravas’ growing hopelessness, asking who could still be trusted to defeat Arjuna.