Shloka 293
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 155 — Ghaṭotkaca-nidhana-śoka and Karṇa-śakti-vyaya
Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance
स्वार्थहेतो: पराक्रान्तौ दुर्योधनयुधिष्ठिरी । शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले वे दोनों कुरुवंशी वीर दुर्योधन और युधिष्ठिर अपने-अपने स्वार्थके लिये युद्धमें पराक्रम प्रकट करते हुए एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये
svārtha-hetoḥ parākrāntau duryodhana-yudhiṣṭhirī | śatrūṇāṃ damana-karṇe vāle te ubhau kuru-vaṃśī vīrau duryodhanaḥ yudhiṣṭhiraś ca sva-sva svārthāya yuddhe parākramaṃ prakaṭayantaḥ parasparaṃ samabhidudruvuḥ
サンジャヤは言った。己の利を求めて、ドゥルヨーダナとユディシュティラ――ともにクル族に生まれ、敵を屈する勇士――はそれぞれの目的のため戦場で武威を示し、互いに迫って正面から激突した。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal interest (svārtha) can become a powerful driver even for celebrated figures, intensifying conflict and testing dharma. It invites reflection on motive: valor in war is not ethically neutral, and intention—duty versus self-serving gain—shapes the moral weight of action.
Sanjaya reports that Duryodhana and Yudhiṣṭhira, both formidable Kuru warriors, advance toward each other in battle. Each seeks to secure his own objective in the war, and they meet head-on, displaying martial prowess as they engage directly.