Shloka 11
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
“तात! श्रीकृष्ण हमारा सर्वनाश करके कौरवोंका एक राज्य बनाकर उसे युधिष्ठिरको सौंपना चाहते हैं ।।
tāta! śrīkṛṣṇo ’smākaṃ sarvanāśaṃ kṛtvā kauravāṇām ekaṃ rājyaṃ kṛtvā tad yudhiṣṭhirāya samarpayitum icchati. tatra kiṃ prāptakālaṃ naḥ praṇipātaḥ palāyanam prāṇān vā samparityajya pratiyudhyāmahe parān?
Ayah, Kresna hendak membinasakan kita seluruhnya—menyisakan hanya satu kerajaan bagi para Kaurawa, dan bahkan itu pun untuk diserahkan kepada Yudhisthira. Dalam keadaan demikian, apakah yang patut kita lakukan sekarang: bersujud memohon di kaki mereka, membelakangi lalu melarikan diri, atau menanggalkan keterikatan pada hidup dan menghadapi musuh dalam pertempuran?
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a crisis of choice—submission, retreat, or battle—highlighting how fear, pride, and political ambition can distort ethical judgment. It also foregrounds the kṣatriya dilemma: whether preserving life and kingdom justifies compromise, or whether honor and resistance are treated as paramount even when the cause is morally compromised.
In Udyoga Parva, as negotiations and Krishna’s diplomatic efforts intensify, Duryodhana interprets Krishna’s intent as the destruction of Kaurava power and the transfer of sovereignty to Yudhishthira. He turns to his father Dhṛtarāṣṭra and asks what immediate policy they should adopt—submit, flee, or fight—thereby pushing the court toward the path of war.