Shloka 25
उद्योगपर्व — धृतराष्ट्रस्य दुर्योधनप्रति शक्तिस्मारक-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva 63: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel Reminding Duryodhana of Opponent Strength
विराटनगरे भग्ना: कि तत्र तव दृश्यताम् । प्रतीक्षमाणो यो वीर: क्षमते वीक्षितं तव
virāṭanagare bhagnāḥ ki tatra tava dṛśyatām | pratīkṣamāṇo yo vīraḥ kṣamate vīkṣitaṃ tava ||
Vidura dit : «Ils furent mis en déroute dans la cité de Virāṭa : quelle force des tiens y voit-on donc ? Ce héros, qui attend encore ton regard d’amitié, peut—si tu le considères avec faveur—pardonner toute la faute des Kaurava.»
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura urges the king to recognize reality and choose reconciliation: a truly great hero can forgive when met with sincere, respectful regard, and wise kingship lies in abandoning pride and ending wrongdoing before it becomes irreversible.
In the lead-up to war, Vidura reminds the Kuru court that their forces were once humiliated at Virāṭa, implying the Pandava champion’s superiority. He advises that if the king shows goodwill, that hero may forgive the Kauravas’ offenses—pointing toward peace over escalation.