Shloka 21
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
जघान सुबहूंस्तेषां संरब्ध: कुरुसत्तम: । ततस्ते शरणं जम्मुर्देवव्रतमिमं भयात्
jaghāna subahūṁs teṣāṁ saṁrabdhaḥ kurusattamaḥ | tatas te śaraṇaṁ jagmur devavratam imaṁ bhayāt ||
ភីស្មៈ កុរុវីរប្រសើរបំផុត បានវាយសម្លាប់មនុស្សជាច្រើនក្នុងចំណោមពួកគេ ដោយកំហឹងពុះពារ។ បន្ទាប់មក ស្តេចទាំងនោះភ័យស្លន់ស្លោ ក៏ត្រឡប់ទៅសុំជ្រកកោនក្រោម ដេវវ្រតៈ (ភីស្មៈ) នេះវិញ។
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical dynamic in the epic: when confronted by overwhelming force and the consequences of conflict, people often abandon pride and factionalism to seek refuge in the strongest protector. It also reflects how a warrior’s prowess can become the pivot of political allegiance in wartime.
Duryodhana recounts that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), furious in battle, killed many among certain kings; frightened by this, the remaining kings returned and sought Bhīṣma’s protection.