Shloka 17
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
ततो द्रोणो<ब्रवीद् भीष्म: कृपो द्रौणिश्न भारत । मत्वा मां महतीं चिन्तामास्थितं व्यथितेन्द्रियम्
tato droṇo ’bravīd bhīṣmaḥ kṛpo drauṇiś ca bhārata | matvā māṃ mahatīṃ cintām āsthitaṃ vyathitendriyam ||
Lalu Droṇa berbicara, demikian pula Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, dan putra Droṇa, Aśvatthāman, wahai Bhārata. Melihat aku tenggelam dalam kecemasan besar dan indra-indraku terguncang, mereka menenangkanku: “Wahai penakluk musuh, sekalipun pihak lawan menyimpan permusuhan terhadap kita, janganlah engkau takut. Saat mereka maju ke medan perang, para musuh itu takkan mampu mengalahkan kita.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a leadership moment: senior warriors attempt to steady a ruler’s shaken mind. Ethically, it shows how counsel can be used to strengthen resolve—here, toward war—by reframing fear as unnecessary and asserting confidence in one’s side.
Duryodhana is troubled and inwardly agitated. Observing his anxiety, Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, and Aśvatthāman speak to reassure him, telling him not to fear the enemy faction because they will not be able to defeat the Kauravas in battle.