Shloka 4
Śikhaṇḍin’s Transformation, Daśārṇa Verification, and Kubera’s Conditional Curse
Udyoga Parva 193
मासेनेति च तेनोक्तो धार्तराष्ट्र: सुदुर्मति: । तावता चापि कालेन द्रोणो5पि प्रतिजज्ञिवान्
māseneti ca tenokto dhārtarāṣṭraḥ sudurmatiḥ | tāvatā cāpi kālena droṇo 'pi pratijajñivān |
युधिष्ठिर बोले—उस दुर्बुद्धि धृतराष्ट्र-पुत्र से भीष्म ने कहा—‘एक महीने में।’ और उतने ही समय में द्रोणाचार्य ने भी वैसा करने की प्रतिज्ञा की।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical danger of prideful, time-bound vows of mass destruction in war. It implicitly contrasts such exterminatory intent with dharma, which demands restraint, right intention, and viewing battle as a grievous necessity rather than a boastful project.
Yudhiṣṭhira reports what he has heard: Duryodhana claimed he could destroy the Pāṇḍava army within a month, and Droṇa likewise pledged to do so in the same time. The statement frames the escalating martial commitments of the Kaurava side.