Shloka 19
दुर्योधनस्य लज्जा-प्रायोपवेशविचारः
Duryodhana’s Shame and Consideration of Prāyopaveśa
न पुत्रधनलाभेन न राज्येनापि विन्दति । प्रीतिं नृपतिशार्दूल याममित्राघदर्शनात्,“नृपश्रेष्ठ! मनुष्यको अपने शत्रुओंकी दुर्दशा देखनेसे जो प्रसन्नता प्राप्त होती है, वह धन, पुत्र तथा राज्य मिलनेसे भी नहीं होती। हमलोगोंमेंसे जो भी स्वयं सिद्धमनोरथ होकर आश्रममें अर्जुनको वल्कल और मृगछाला पहने देखेगा, उसे कौन-सा सुख नहीं मिल जायगा?
na putra-dhana-lābhena na rājyena api vindati | prītiṁ nṛpati-śārdūla yām amitra-agha-darśanāt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O tiger among kings, the delight a man feels on seeing the downfall and suffering of his enemies is not obtained even by gaining wealth, sons, or a kingdom.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a morally troubling but common human impulse: schadenfreude—pleasure at an enemy’s misfortune—can feel more intoxicating than legitimate gains like wealth, children, or political power. By stating this starkly, the narrative invites reflection on how enmity can distort values and happiness.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the events, addresses a king with the epithet “tiger among kings” and comments on the intensity of joy people may feel when they witness their enemies’ downfall, framing it as surpassing even major worldly attainments.