Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 15
उद्योगपर्व — गान्धारी-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva — Gandhārī’s Counsel to Duryodhana
विषेण सर्पबन्धैशक्ष॒ यतिता: पाण्डवास्त्वया । सर्वोपायैर्विनाशाय न समृद्ध च तत् तव
vaiśampāyana uvāca | viṣeṇa sarpabandhaiś ca yatitāḥ pāṇḍavās tvayā | sarvopāyair vināśāya na samṛddhaṃ ca tat tava ||
वैशम्पायन बोले— तूने विष देकर, सर्प-प्रयोगों से डसवाकर, बाँधकर और जल में डलवाकर—हर उपाय से पाण्डवों के विनाश का प्रयत्न किया; पर तेरा वह प्रयास भी सफल न हुआ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Schemes rooted in adharma—poisoning, deceit, and covert violence—carry ethical blame and tend toward failure; the text highlights the moral futility of treachery against those protected by righteousness and rightful order.
The speaker recalls earlier assassination attempts against the Pāṇḍavas—using poison, snake-based contrivances, and binding and drowning—stating that despite employing many stratagems, the plotter’s efforts did not succeed.