Shloka 43
Gadā-yuddhe Bhīma–Duryodhanayoḥ Tumulaḥ Saṃprahāraḥ
Mace-duel’s intense exchange
ततः सम्पूजित: सर्व: सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुह: । भूयो धीरां मतिं चक्रे युद्धाय कुरुनन्दन:,तदनन्तर सबसे सम्मानित हो कुरुनन्दन दुर्योधनने युद्धके लिये धीर बुद्धिका आश्रय लिया। उस समय उसके शरीरमें रोमांच हो आया था
tataḥ sampūjitaḥ sarvaḥ samprahṛṣṭa-tanūruhaḥ | bhūyo dhīrāṁ matiṁ cakre yuddhāya kurunandanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then, having been fully honored by all, with his body’s hairs standing on end in exhilaration, the Kuru prince (Duryodhana) once again steadied his resolve and fixed his courageous mind upon the coming battle. The verse highlights how public acclaim and ritual respect can harden a warrior’s determination, even as it raises ethical questions about how praise and pride can propel one deeper into a destructive war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse suggests that external honor and collective approval can intensify inner resolve; ethically, it invites reflection on whether praise is reinforcing righteous duty or merely inflaming pride and commitment to a harmful course.
After being respectfully honored by those around him, Duryodhana becomes exhilarated (romaharṣa) and renews a firm, courageous determination to proceed to battle, as reported by Sañjaya.