Shloka 30
स एवमुक्तः सुहृदा वचो हित विचिन्त्य नि:श्वस्य च दुर्मनाब्रवीत् । यथा भवानाह सखे तथैव त- न्ममापि विज्ञापयतो वच: शूणु
sa evam uktaḥ suhṛdā vaco hitaṁ vicintya niḥśvasya ca durmanābravīt | yathā bhavān āha sakhe tathaiva tan mamāpi vijñāpayato vacaḥ śṛṇu suhṛt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Setelah dinasihati demikian oleh sahabat yang menghendaki kebaikannya, Duryodhana merenung, menarik napas panjang, lalu—dengan hati yang gundah—berkata: “Sahabat, apa yang kaukatakan memang benar; namun dalam perkara ini aku pun hendak menyampaikan sesuatu. Karena itu, dengarkan juga ucapanku, wahai sahabat yang tulus.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when counsel is clearly beneficial (hita), a troubled mind may accept it verbally yet still feel compelled to argue its own position. The verse highlights the ethical tension between listening to wise advice and the ego-driven need to justify one’s chosen course.
After a well-wisher speaks for Duryodhana’s good, Duryodhana pauses to reflect, sighs in distress, and replies that the friend’s words are correct—yet asks to be heard as he presents his own counter-submission on the same issue.