Shloka 25
Dvaipāyana-hrade Duryodhanasya Māyā — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharmoktiḥ (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 30)
तेडपि सर्वे महेष्वासा अयुद्धार्थिनि कौरवे । निर्बन्ध॑ं परमं चक्रुस्तदा वै युद्धकाड्क्षिण:
te 'pi sarve maheṣvāsā ayuddhārthini kaurave | nirbandhaṁ paramaṁ cakrus tadā vai yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。クル族の王が戦を望まぬにもかかわらず、戦を渇望するその大弓の勇士たちは、最も強い執拗さで彼に戦端を開くよう迫った。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical danger in governance: even if a ruler hesitates, the warlike desires of influential followers can compel escalation. Responsibility for conflict is thus shared—pressure from advisors and warriors can become a decisive moral force.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava great archers, eager for battle, strongly urged Duryodhana to initiate or continue war, despite his lack of desire for fighting at that moment.