Shloka 53
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
सहितास्तु नरव्याप्रा हनिष्यन्ति धनंजयम् | भीष्मद्रोणकृपाणां च तुल्य: कर्णो मतो मम,ये नरश्रेष्ठ जब एक साथ होकर युद्ध करेंगे, तब अर्जुनको अवश्य मार डालेंगे। भीष्म, द्रोण और कृप--इन तीनोंके समान पराक्रमी तो अकेला कर्ण ही है, यह मेरी मान्यता है
sahitās tu naravyāprā haniṣyanti dhanañjayam | bhīṣma-droṇa-kṛpāṇāṃ ca tulyaḥ karṇo mato mama ||
Duryodhana déclare : «Lorsque mes plus grands guerriers agiront ensemble au combat, ils tueront à coup sûr Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). Et, selon ma conviction, Karṇa à lui seul égale en vaillance Bhīṣma, Droṇa et Kṛpa.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how confidence in power and alliances can harden into moral blindness: Duryodhana measures success by martial capability and numbers, elevating Karṇa as a counterweight to revered elders, while ignoring the deeper dharmic consequences of the war he is driving toward.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duryodhana voices his expectation of victory, claiming that united Kaurava champions will kill Arjuna and that Karṇa alone matches the combined stature of Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Kṛpa—an assertion meant to bolster resolve and intimidate opponents.