Shloka 6
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
अब्रवीत् तत्र तेजस्वी सोडभिसृत्य जनाधिपम् । दुर्योधनं मन्युवशाद् वाक््यं वाक्यविशारद:
sañjaya uvāca | abravīt tatra tejasvī so 'bhisṛtya janādhipam | duryodhanaṁ manyuvaśād vākyaṁ vākyaviśāradaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : «Alors l’homme rayonnant, maître dans l’art de la parole, s’approcha du seigneur des hommes, le roi Duryodhana, et, poussé par l’indignation devant le retournement des événements, l’adressa en des mots convenables. Sous l’ombre éthique de la ruine du champ de bataille et du désespoir de l’armée, cette démarche marque l’effort d’un aîné pour affermir un souverain ébranlé et le détourner du chagrin et de l’effondrement vers la résolution et le devoir, tels qu’il les conçoit.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a leadership moment: when a ruler is overwhelmed by anger or despair, the role of an experienced counselor is to intervene with measured speech. Ethically, it underscores the power of words to stabilize conduct in crisis and the responsibility of elders/teachers to guide a wavering king.
Sañjaya reports that an illustrious, eloquent elder approaches King Duryodhana and speaks to him, prompted by the intense emotions and dire battlefield situation described in the surrounding passage. It sets up a counsel or admonition directed at Duryodhana.