Shloka 29
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception
(ततो दुर्योधनो राजा धार्तराष्ट्र: परंतप: । मानी दृढास्त्रसम्पन्न: सर्वेश्ष नृपलक्षणै: ।। उत्थित:ः सहसा तत्र भ्रातृमध्ये महाबल: । विलोक्य द्रौपदी हृष्टो धनुषो5भ्याशमागमत् ।। स बभौ धनुरादाय शक्रश्नापधरो यथा । आरोपयंस्तु तद् राजा धनुषा बलिना तदा ।। उत्तानशय्यमपतदड्गुल्यन्तरताडित: । स ययौ ताडितस्तेन व्रीडन्निव नराधिप: ।।) तदनन्तर शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र महाबली राजा दुर्योधन सहसा अपने भाइयोंके बीचसे उठकर खड़ा हो गया। उसके अस्त्र-शस्त्र बड़े मजबूत थे। वह स्वाभिमानी होनेके साथ ही समस्त राजोचित लक्षणोंसे सम्पन्न था। द्रौपदीको देखकर उसका हृदय हर्षसे खिल उठा और वह शीघ्रतापूर्वक धनुषके पास आया। उस धनुषको हाथमें लेकर वह चापधारी इन्द्रके समान शोभा पाने लगा। राजा दुर्योधन उस मजबूत धनुषपर जब प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाने लगा, उस समय उसके अँगुलियोंके बीचमें झटकेसे ऐसी चोट लगी कि वह चित्त लोट गया। धनुषकी चोट खाकर राजा दुर्योधन अत्यन्त लज्जित होता हुआ-सा अपने स्थानपर लौट गया। तस्मिंस्तु सम्भ्रान्तजने समाजे निक्षिप्तवादेषु जनाधिपेषु । कुन्तीसुतो जिष्णुरियेष कर्तु सज्यं धनुस्तत् सशंर प्रवीर:,(जब इस प्रकार बड़े-बड़े प्रभावशाली राजा लक्ष्यवेध न कर सके, तब) सारा समाज सम्भ्रम (घबराहट)-में पड़ गया और लक्ष्यवेधकी बातचीततक बंद हो गयी, उसी समय प्रमुख वीर कुन्तीनन्दन अर्जुनने उस धनुषपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाकर उसपर बाण-संधान करनेकी अभिलाषा की
tato duryodhano rājā dhārtarāṣṭraḥ parantapaḥ | mānī dṛḍhāstrasampannaḥ sarveṣāṃ nṛpalakṣaṇaiḥ || utthitaḥ sahasā tatra bhrātṛmadhye mahābalaḥ | vilokya draupadīṃ hṛṣṭo dhanuṣo ’bhyāśam āgamat || sa babhau dhanur ādāya śakraśnāpadharo yathā | āropayaṃs tu tad rājā dhanuṣā balinā tadā || uttānaśayyam apatat aṅgulyantaratāḍitaḥ | sa yayau tāḍitas tena vrīḍann iva narādhipaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then King Duryodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—scorcher of foes—proud and furnished with firm weapons and all the marks of royalty, suddenly rose from among his brothers. Seeing Draupadī, his heart brightened with delight, and he hurried toward the bow. Taking it up, he shone like Indra bearing his bow. But as the king tried to string that mighty bow, his fingers were struck in the gap between them; he fell flat on his back. Struck by the bow and seeming consumed by shame, the ruler returned to his place. (In the assembly, when even eminent kings had failed and talk of hitting the target fell silent in confusion, Arjuna, the foremost Kuntī’s son, desired to string the bow and set an arrow upon it.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how pride and desire for public triumph can lead to sudden humiliation, while true capability is proven through composure and competence rather than status. In a dharmic frame, royal honor is not merely claimed by birth or bravado; it is tested by restraint, skill, and the ability to act rightly under scrutiny.
During Draupadī’s svayaṃvara contest, Duryodhana rises eagerly, encouraged by seeing Draupadī, and attempts to string the powerful bow. His fingers are struck, he falls backward, and he returns to his seat appearing ashamed. The assembly grows tense and falls silent after repeated failures, and then Arjuna prepares to string the bow and take aim.