Shloka 18
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Dialogue on Peace and the Refusal of Compromise
यावद्धि सूच्यास्तीक्ष्णाया विध्येदग्रेण मारिष । तावदप्यपरित्याज्यं भूमेर्न: पाण्डवान् प्रति,पूज्य पिताजी! तीखी सूईके अग्रभागसे जितनी भूमि बिंध सकती है, उतनी भी मैं पाण्डवोंको नहीं दे सकता
yāvad dhi sūcyās tīkṣṇāyā vidhyed agreṇa māriṣa | tāvad apy aparityājyaṃ bhūmer naḥ pāṇḍavān prati ||
尊き御方よ、鋭い針の先が刺し貫けるほどの土地——たとえそれほどであっても——我らの領土をパーンダヴァらに譲ることはできぬ。
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how rigid attachment to power and property can override ethical compromise; Duryodhana’s refusal to yield even a needle-point of land exemplifies adharma-driven obstinacy that makes peaceful settlement impossible.
During the pre-war negotiations in the Udyoga Parva, Duryodhana states unequivocally that he will not give the Pāṇḍavas any portion of land—using the needle-tip measure to stress absolute denial—thereby escalating the conflict toward the Kurukṣetra war.