Shloka 54
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
विश्रामके लिये सरोवरमें छिपे हुए दुर्योधन एवमुक््त्वा महाराज प्राविशत् त॑ महाह्दम् अस्तम्भयत तोयं च मायया मनुजाधिप:,महाराज! ऐसा कहकर राजा दुर्योधनने उस महान् सरोवरमें प्रवेश किया और मायासे उसका पानी बाँध दिया
sañjaya uvāca | viśrāmake liye sarovare chipe hue duryodhana evam uktvā mahārāja prāviśat taṁ mahāhradam | astambhayat toyaṁ ca māyayā manujādhipaḥ |
Sanjaya said: “O King, having spoken thus about Duryodhana who was concealed in the lake to take rest, Duryodhana entered that vast reservoir; and by his magical power the lord of men held back and stilled its waters.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the collapse of righteous conduct during war, a ruler may resort to concealment and magical stratagems for self-preservation—raising ethical questions about kṣatriya duty, courage, and accountability in defeat.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana, hiding in a large lake to rest and evade pursuit, enters the water and uses māyā to still or hold back the lake’s waters, remaining concealed within it.