Shloka 173
Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana
The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint
को न्वेष संयुगे प्राज्ञ: पुनर्दन्द्धे समाह्नयेत् । इस दुर्योधनकी सेना मारी गयी थी। यह परास्त हो गया था और अब राज्य पानेसे निराश हो वनमें चला जाना चाहता था; इसीलिये भागकर पोखरेमें छिपा था, ऐसे हताश शत्रुको कौन बुद्धिमान् पुरुष समरांगणमें द्वन्ध-युद्धके लिये आमन्त्रित करेगा?
ko nveṣa saṁyuge prājñaḥ punar dvan-dve samāhvayet |
Vāyu said: “Who, being wise, would in battle summon again to a duel an enemy who has already been crushed? Duryodhana’s army had been slain; he was defeated, and, despairing of regaining the kingdom, wished to withdraw to the forest. Therefore he fled and hid in a pond. What prudent man would invite such a broken, hopeless foe to single combat on the battlefield?”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses prudence and ethical restraint in warfare: a wise person does not seek glory by challenging a foe who is already broken, defeated, and without hope—such a duel would be unnecessary and morally questionable.
Vāyu comments on Duryodhana’s condition after his army’s destruction: defeated and despairing of kingship, he flees and hides in a pond, intending to abandon the struggle; the speaker questions why anyone would now call him out for a formal duel.