Shloka 14
संतोषो वै श्रियं हन्ति ह्भिमानं च भारत । अनुक्रोशभये चोभे यैर्व॒ृतो नाश्वुते महत्
santoṣo vai śriyaṃ hanti hy abhīmānaṃ ca bhārata | anukrośabhaye cobhe yair vṛto nāśnute mahat ||
ドゥルヨーダナは言った。「おおバーラタよ、満足はまことに繁栄を殺し、また向上の気概をも殺す。さらに憐れみと恐れ——人がそれらに取り囲まれるとき——大いなる境地に至ることを妨げる。」
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Duryodhana’s hard-edged political ethic: he treats contentment as an obstacle to wealth and rule, and views compassion and fear as weaknesses that block ‘greatness.’ It illustrates a value-system opposed to dharmic restraint, where success is pursued by suppressing empathy and hesitation.
In Sabha Parva, Duryodhana is articulating his outlook on power and achievement. He argues that a ruler (or aspirant to greatness) must not be satisfied with what he has, nor be held back by pity or fear—revealing the mindset that fuels his hostility and relentless pursuit of dominance.