Duryodhana’s Account of Gandharva Defeat and the Pandavas’ Intervention (दुर्योधनवर्णितो गन्धर्वसंग्रामः)
निशम्य तद् वचन पार्थिवस्य दुर्योधनं रहिते सौबलो5थ । अबोधयत् कर्णमुपेत्य सर्व स चाप्यह्ृष्टो>भवदल्पचेता:,एकान्तमें कही हुई राजा धृतराष्ट्रकी उपर्युक्त सारी बातें सुनकर सुबलपुत्र शकुनिने दुर्योधन और कर्णके पास जाकर ज्यों-की-त्यों कह सुनायी। इससे मन्दमति दुर्योधन उदास एवं चिन्तित हो गया
niśamya tad vacanaṃ pārthivasya duryodhanaṃ rahite saubalo ’tha | abodhayat karṇam upetya sarvaṃ sa cāpy ahṛṣṭo ’bhavad alpacetāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah mendengar kata-kata raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śakuni putra Subala menemui Duryodhana secara diam-diam dan melaporkan semuanya persis sebagaimana diucapkan; ia pun mendatangi Karṇa dan menyampaikan seluruhnya. Mendengarnya, Duryodhana yang berpikiran sempit menjadi tanpa sukacita—tenggelam dalam murung dan gelisah.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
When counsel grounded in restraint and duty confronts unchecked ambition, the unethical mind often reacts with displeasure rather than reform. The verse highlights how inner disposition (alpacetā—small-mindedness) determines whether one receives wise advice as guidance or as an obstacle.
Śakuni privately meets Duryodhana and then Karṇa, relaying Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s message exactly. On hearing it, Duryodhana is not pleased; he becomes gloomy and worried, indicating that the king’s words run against his plans.