Shloka 14
भीमसेन–अलायुधयुद्धम् / Bhīmasena and Alāyudha: Night Engagement and Command Responses
अपरभ्नापि दुर्थर्ष: शिष्यस्ते सव्यसाचिना । अक्षौहिणी: सप्त हत्वा हतो राजा जयद्रथ:,सव्यसाची अर्जुनने मेरी सात अक्षौहिणी सेनाओंका संहार करके आपके दूसरे दुर्धर्ष शिष्य राजा जयद्रथको भी मार डाला है। मुझे विजय दिलानेकी इच्छा रखनेवाले मेरे जो- जो उपकारी सुहृद् युद्धमें प्राण देकर यमलोकमें जा पहुँचे हैं, उनका ऋण मैं कैसे चुका सकूँगा?
aparabhṇāpi durdharṣaḥ śiṣyas te savyasācinā | akṣauhiṇīḥ sapta hatvā hato rājā jayadrathaḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “Even your other disciple—hard to assail—has been slain by Savyasācin (Arjuna). After destroying seven akṣauhiṇīs of my forces, Arjuna has also killed King Jayadratha. How can I ever repay the debt I owe to those benefactor-friends of mine who, desiring to secure my victory, have given up their lives in battle and reached the realm of Yama?”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of leadership: a ruler accrues moral debt (ṛṇa) when allies and well-wishers sacrifice their lives for his cause. Duryodhana’s lament underscores that victory sought through others’ deaths creates obligations that cannot be easily repaid, exposing the tragic cost of ambition and war.
After Jayadratha’s death—brought about by Arjuna’s vow-driven assault—Duryodhana reports that Arjuna has annihilated seven akṣauhiṇīs and slain Jayadratha. He then reflects on the many supporters who died trying to secure his victory and wonders how he can repay their sacrifice.