Shloka 9
एतच्छुत्वा तु वचन राज्ञो भरतसत्तम | दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्य भीष्म: शान्तनवोडब्रवीत्,कथयामास दुर्धर्षो विनि:श्वस्य पुनः पुनः । संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला राजा दुर्योधन उस महान् युद्धमें एक राक्षसके द्वारा प्राप्त हुई अपनी पराजयको नहीं सह सका। उसने गंगानन्दन भीष्मजीके पास जाकर उन्हें विनीतभावसे प्रणाम करनेके पश्चात् सारा वृत्तान्त यथावत् रूपसे कह सुनाया। उस दुर्धर्ष वीरने बारंबार लम्बी साँस खींचकर घटोत्कचकी विजय और अपनी पराजयकी कथा कही भरतश्रेष्ठ! राजा दुर्योधनका यह वचन सुनकर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने उससे इस प्रकार कहा--
etac chrutvā tu vacanaṁ rājño bharatasattama | duryodhanam idaṁ vākyaṁ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo ’bravīt, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya said: “O best of the Bharatas, having heard these words of the king, Śāntanu’s son Bhīṣma addressed Duryodhana in reply. Duryodhana, hard to assail, repeatedly heaved deep sighs as he recounted the matter again and again—unable to endure the humiliation of his setback in that great battle. Then Bhīṣma spoke to him in this manner.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wounded pride and inability to bear defeat can agitate even a powerful warrior, and how such agitation naturally leads one to seek counsel from an elder. Ethically, it points to the need for steadiness (self-control) and wise guidance in moments of humiliation and crisis.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, repeatedly sighing, narrates his distress and setback in the great battle. After hearing him, Bhīṣma—Śāntanu’s son—begins to respond, setting up Bhīṣma’s counsel to Duryodhana.