Shloka 15
Dvaipāyana-hrade Duryodhanasya Māyā — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharmoktiḥ (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 30)
पाण्डुकौरवसम्मर्दाज्जीवमानान् नरर्षभान् | दुर्योधन बोला--मैं ऐसे जनसंहारकारी पाण्डव-कौरव-संग्रामसे आप सभी नरश्रेष्ठ वीरोंको जीवित बचा हुआ देख रहा हूँ, यह बड़े सौभाग्यकी बात है ।।
pāṇḍukaurava-sammardāj jīvamānān nararṣabhān paśyāmi—etad bhāgyam; viṣayiṣyāmo vayaṃ sarve viśrāntā vigataklamāḥ. yūyam api bahu klāntā vayaṃ cātyanta-vraṇitāḥ; pāṇḍavānāṃ balaṃ vardhitam; tasmād idānīṃ me yuddhe rucir na jāyate.
ドゥルヨーダナは言った。パーンダヴァとカウラヴァの間で人命を刈り取るほどの激突が起こったのち、なおこれほど多くの第一の勇士たちが生き残っているのを見るのは、まことに稀なる幸運である。皆が休み、疲れを払いさえすれば、なお勝利は得られよう。だが双方ともに消耗し、こちらは深手を負い、かたやパーンダヴァの勢いは増している。ゆえに今この時、戦を続けようという望みは我が胸に起こらぬ。
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in prolonged conflict, even powerful leaders become governed by fatigue, injury, and shifting advantage. It implicitly critiques war’s moral erosion: decisions are driven less by righteousness and more by survival, morale, and tactical timing.
Duryodhana observes that many great warriors have survived the brutal Pāṇḍava–Kaurava clash. He proposes a pause to rest and recover, arguing that renewed strength could bring victory, while noting that the Pāṇḍavas currently appear to be gaining strength and his own side is badly hurt.