Shloka 83
श्रेयस्तद् भविता महां नैवंभूतस्य जीवितम् । वीर! यदि मैं उस महायुद्धमें मारा गया होता तो यह मेरे लिये कल्याणकारी होता; परंतु इस दशामें जीवित रहना कदापि अच्छा नहीं है
śreyas tad bhavitā mahān naivaṁbhūtasya jīvitam | vīra! yadi mayā sa mahāyuddhe mārā gato 'bhavat tad eva mama kalyāṇakaraṁ syāt; kintu asyāṁ daśāyāṁ jīvitaṁ kadāpi na śreyaḥ ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai pahlawan, bagi diriku dalam keadaan seperti ini, maut lebih baik daripada hidup. Seandainya aku gugur dalam perang besar itu, itulah yang sungguh membawa keberuntungan bagiku; tetapi tetap hidup dalam keadaan ini tak pernah baik.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts mere survival with śreyas (true good): when life is bound to dishonor, defeat, or moral collapse, it may be judged inferior to a death that preserves one’s sense of honor. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, this also hints at the bitter fruits of adharma—when one’s choices lead to a state where even life feels devoid of value.
Duryodhana, speaking to an addressed ‘hero,’ expresses anguish at his present condition. He says that being killed in the great war would have been better for him, whereas continuing to live in his current plight feels unbearable and not beneficial.