Shloka 23
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
तेषां दानवमुख्यानां प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च
teṣāṁ dānavamukhyānāṁ prayutāny arbudāni ca, nibodha manasā cātra na te kāryā vicāraṇā |
Duryodhana berkata: “Pasukan para pemuka Dānava itu berjumlah prāyuta dan arbuda—tak terhitung banyaknya. Pahami ini dengan pikiran teguh; jangan menimbang-nimbang dengan keraguan.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how persuasive speech can press an audience toward certainty—urging acceptance without further scrutiny. Ethically, it warns that appeals to overwhelming power and the discouraging of reflection can be tools of manipulation in counsel and war.
Duryodhana is addressing a kingly figure associated with the Dānavas, emphasizing the immense numerical strength of certain demonic leaders and insisting the listener accept this account firmly, without doubting or re-deliberating.