Shloka 83
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
श्रेयस्तद् भविता महां नैवंभूतस्य जीवितम् । वीर! यदि मैं उस महायुद्धमें मारा गया होता तो यह मेरे लिये कल्याणकारी होता; परंतु इस दशामें जीवित रहना कदापि अच्छा नहीं है
śreyas tad bhavitā mahān naivaṁbhūtasya jīvitam | vīra! yadi mayā sa mahāyuddhe mārā gato 'bhavat tad eva mama kalyāṇakaraṁ syāt; kintu asyāṁ daśāyāṁ jīvitaṁ kadāpi na śreyaḥ ||
ದುರ್ಯೋಧನನು ಹೇಳಿದರು— ವೀರನೇ, ನನ್ನ ಈ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮರಣವೇ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ. ಆ ಮಹಾಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಹತನಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಅದೇ ನನಗೆ ಮಂಗಳಕರವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು; ಆದರೆ ಈ ದಶೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬದುಕಿರುವುದು ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಲ್ಲ.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts mere survival with śreyas (true good): when life is bound to dishonor, defeat, or moral collapse, it may be judged inferior to a death that preserves one’s sense of honor. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, this also hints at the bitter fruits of adharma—when one’s choices lead to a state where even life feels devoid of value.
Duryodhana, speaking to an addressed ‘hero,’ expresses anguish at his present condition. He says that being killed in the great war would have been better for him, whereas continuing to live in his current plight feels unbearable and not beneficial.