Shloka 2

Devanagari script

दुर्योधन उवाच न मर्षणीया: संग्रामे विश्रमन्त: श्रमान्विता: । सपत्ना ग्लानमनसो लब्धलक्ष्या विशेषत:,दुर्योधन बोला--आचार्य! युद्धमें विशेषतः वे शत्रु, जो लक्ष्य बेधनेमें कभी चूकते न हों, यदि थककर विश्राम ले रहे हों और मनमें ग्लानि भरी होनेसे युद्धविषयक उत्साह खो बैठे हों, उनके प्रति कभी क्षमा नहीं दिखानी चाहिये

Transliteration

duryodhana uvāca | na marṣaṇīyāḥ saṅgrāme viśramantaḥ śramānvitāḥ | sapatnā glānamānaso labdhalakṣyā viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Duryodhana said: “In battle, no forbearance should be shown—especially toward rival foes who are famed for never missing their mark—if they have grown weary, have paused to rest, and, with minds sunk in dejection, have lost their fighting spirit. Such a moment must be pressed, not pardoned.”

Word by Word

• {'na': 'not', 'marṣaṇīyāḥ': 'to be tolerated/forgiven

• worthy of forbearance', 'saṅgrāme': 'in battle, in war', 'viśramantaḥ': 'resting, taking respite', 'śramānvitāḥ': 'endowed with fatigue

• exhausted', 'sapatnāḥ': 'rivals, adversaries, enemies', 'glānamānasaḥ': 'whose mind is dejected/dispirited', 'labdhalakṣyāḥ': 'those who have obtained their aim/target

• (also) those who have found the mark', 'viśeṣataḥ': 'especially, in particular'}

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• enemies/rival warriors (sapatnāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse articulates a hardline battlefield ethic: when opponents are exhausted, resting, and demoralized—even if they are otherwise formidable and accurate—one should not show leniency. It frames mercy in war as strategically unsound, prioritizing victory over compassion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana urges his side to take advantage of a perceived lapse in the enemy’s condition—fatigue, rest, and loss of morale—arguing that this is precisely the time to press the attack rather than forgive or allow recovery.