Shloka 54
Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ
Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors
कच्चिद् दुर्योधनो मन्द: शममस्मासु धास्यति । क्या मूर्ख दुर्योधन संग्रामभूमिमें भीमसेनके हाथसे अपने भाइयोंका वध होता देखकर हमारे साथ संधि कर लेगा? || ५३ $ || दृष्टवा चान्यान् महायोधान् पातितान् धरणीतले । कच्चिद् दुर्योधनो मन्द: पश्चात्तापं गमिष्यति
sañjaya uvāca |
kaccid duryodhano mandaḥ śamam asmāsu dhāsyati |
dṛṣṭvā cānyān mahāyodhān pātitān dharaṇītale |
kaccid duryodhano mandaḥ paścāttāpaṃ gamiṣyati ||
サンジャヤは言った。「愚鈍なドゥルヨーダナは、ついに我らに対して心を鎮め—和睦を受け入れるであろうか。戦場においてさえ、ビーマセーナの手で自らの兄弟が討たれるのを見たのちに？ さらに、他の大勇士たちも打ち倒されて地に伏すのを見て、その愚か者ドゥルヨーダナはついに悔恨に動かされるであろうか。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical lesson that obstinate pride and hostility, when maintained despite clear signs of ruin, lead to irreversible loss; true wisdom is to seek śama (pacification and reconciliation) before destruction forces a belated paścāttāpa (remorse).
Sañjaya, reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, wonders whether Duryodhana—after witnessing the slaughter of his brothers by Bhīmasena and the fall of other great warriors—will finally agree to make peace with the Pāṇḍavas or at least feel remorse for his course.