Shloka 8
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रतियाते तु दाशाहें राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । कर्ण दुःशासनं चैव शकुनिं चाब्रवीदिदम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca
pratiyāte tu dāśārhe rājā duryodhanas tadā |
karṇa duḥśāsanaṃ caiva śakuniṃ cābravīd idam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ô roi, lorsque Dāśārha (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) fut parti, le roi Duryodhana s’adressa alors à Karṇa, Duḥśāsana et Śakuni en ces termes—ouvrant un conseil qui durcirait leur résolution et hâterait la voie vers la guerre plutôt que vers la réconciliation.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral turning point: after Kṛṣṇa’s departure (the failed peace effort), Duryodhana turns to his closest allies for counsel, signaling a choice to rely on partisan strategy and pride rather than dharmic reconciliation—an ethical setup for the ensuing catastrophe.
Kṛṣṇa (called Dāśārha) has left after the peace negotiations. Immediately afterward, Duryodhana convenes Karṇa, Duḥśāsana, and Śakuni and begins speaking to them, preparing the next course of action that leads toward war.