Shloka 14
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
अस्मानेवोपजीवंस्त्वमस्माकं विप्रिये रत: । न हायं त्वां विजानामि मधुदिग्धमिव क्षुरम्,त्वरन्नेकरथेनैव समेत्य द्रोणमब्रवीत् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर जब कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन सिन्धुराज जयद्रथका वध करनेकी इच्छासे द्रोणाचार्य और कृतवर्माका दुस्तर सेना-व्यूह भेदन करके आपकी सेनामें प्रविष्ट हो गये और सव्यसाची अर्जुनके हाथसे जब काम्बोजराजकुमार सुदक्षिण तथा पराक्रमी श्रुतायुध मार दिये गये तथा जब सारी सेनाएँ नष्ट-भ्रष्ट होकर चारों ओर भाग खड़ी हुईं, उस समय अपनी सम्पूर्ण सेनामें भगदड़ मची देख आपका पुत्र दुर्योधन बड़ी उतावलीके साथ एकमात्र रथके द्वारा द्रोणाचार्यके पास गया और उनसे मिलकर इस प्रकार बोला-- “हमसे ही आपकी जीविका चलती है तो भी आप हमारा ही अप्रिय करनेमें संलग्न रहते हैं। मैं नहीं जानता था कि आप शहदमें डुबोये हुए छुरेके समान हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
asmān evopajīvaṁs tvam asmākaṁ vipriye rataḥ |
na hāyaṁ tvāṁ vijānāmi madhudigdham iva kṣuram |
tvarann ekarathenaiva sametya droṇam abravīt ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, then your son, hurrying in a single chariot, went up to Droṇa and spoke: ‘Though you live by our support, you remain intent on what is displeasing to us. I did not know you were like a razor smeared with honey—sweet in appearance, but cutting in effect.’” In ethical tone, the verse exposes Duryodhana’s transactional view of loyalty: he treats patronage as a claim over a teacher’s conduct, and condemns Droṇa as deceptively harmful when Droṇa’s actions do not serve his immediate interest.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of reducing relationships to transactions: Duryodhana assumes that because Droṇa is supported by the Kauravas, Droṇa must act only for their advantage. The ‘honey-smeared razor’ image warns that pleasing words or respectable appearances can conceal harmful intent—or, from another angle, that perceived betrayal often arises when one expects loyalty to be bought rather than grounded in dharma.
After battlefield reversals and panic in the Kaurava ranks, Duryodhana rushes alone in his chariot to Droṇa and confronts him. He accuses Droṇa of acting against Kaurava interests despite living on their patronage, likening him to a razor coated with honey—sweet outwardly but cutting in effect.