Shloka 23

भीष्मद्रोणयोर्दुर्योधनं प्रति शान्त्युपदेशः | Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Counsel to Duryodhana for Pacification

Devanagari script

दुर्योधन निबोधेदं शौरिणोक्त महात्मना । आदलत्स्व शिवमत्यन्तं योगक्षेमवदव्ययम्‌

Transliteration

duryodhana nibodhedaṃ śauriṇoktaṃ mahātmanā | ādalatsva śivam atyantaṃ yogakṣemavad avyayam ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Duryodhana, perhatikanlah ini. Terimalah nasihat yang diucapkan oleh Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) yang berhati luhur; ia amat membawa berkah, mendatangkan yoga-kṣema (kesejahteraan dan perlindungan), dan bertahan lama.”

Word by Word

• {'duryodhana': 'Duryodhana (addressed directly)', 'nibodha': 'understand

• listen attentively (imperative)', 'idam': 'this (teaching/counsel)', 'śauriṇā uktam (śauriṇoktam)': 'spoken by Śauri, i.e., Kṛṣṇa', 'mahātmanā': 'by the great-souled one

• noble-minded', 'ādalatsva (ādatsva)': 'accept

• adopt (imperative)', 'śivam': 'auspicious

• conducive to welfare', 'atyantam': 'exceedingly

• supremely', 'yogakṣemavat': 'bringing attainment and secure preservation

• ensuring welfare and safety', 'avyayam': 'imperishable

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Duryodhana
• Śauri (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Duryodhana is urged to accept Kṛṣṇa’s counsel because it is truly beneficial—promoting auspiciousness, secure welfare (yoga-kṣema), and long-term stability—implying that ethical, peace-oriented advice should be heeded over pride and obstinacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses Duryodhana, emphasizing that the message delivered by Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) is meant for his good and should be adopted—situating the verse within the diplomatic and moral exhortations preceding the great war.