Shloka 44
Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana
The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint
अवस्थाने मतिं कृत्वा पुत्रस्तव महामना: । इयेषोत्पतितुं राजन् छलयिष्यन् वृकोदरम्
avasthāne matiṁ kṛtvā putras tava mahāmanāḥ | iyeṣotpatituṁ rājan chalayīṣyan vṛkodaram ||
Wahai Raja, putramu yang berhati luhur mula-mula memutuskan untuk tetap berdiri teguh di tempatnya; lalu, hendak memperdaya Vṛkodara (Bhīma), ia ingin melompat dan menghindar menjauh.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between battlefield strategy and ethical conduct: victory sought through trickery (chala) may be effective tactically, yet it raises questions about righteous combat and the moral cost of deception.
Vāyu describes the king’s son forming a plan: he decides to stand his ground at first, then suddenly leap away in order to mislead Bhīma (Vṛkodara), implying a tactical feint during the confrontation.