Shloka 231
शत्रुभिश्वावहसितो मानी पौरुषवर्जित: । पाण्डवैरविक्रमाब्यैश्व सावमानमवेक्षित:
śatrubhiś cāvahasito mānī pauruṣavarjitaḥ | pāṇḍavair avikramābhiś ca sāvamānam avekṣitaḥ ||
दुर्योधन बोला—शत्रुओं द्वारा उपहासित होकर भी मैं अभिमानी हूँ, यद्यपि सच्चे पौरुष से रहित हूँ; और पाण्डवों—जिनका पराक्रम तुच्छ है—द्वारा भी मैं तिरस्कार से देखा गया हूँ।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of māna (pride): when self-image persists without corresponding virtue or capability, it leads to shame, resentment, and distorted judgment—fuel for further conflict rather than self-correction.
Duryodhana voices his inner grievance: he feels publicly ridiculed by opponents and scorned by the Pāṇḍavas, and he frames this as an injury to his honor, revealing a wounded pride that intensifies his hostility.