Shloka 14
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
संतोषो वै श्रियं हन्ति ह्भिमानं च भारत । अनुक्रोशभये चोभे यैर्व॒ृतो नाश्वुते महत्
santoṣo vai śriyaṃ hanti hy abhīmānaṃ ca bhārata | anukrośabhaye cobhe yair vṛto nāśnute mahat ||
ഓ ഭാരതാ! സന്തോഷം സത്യമായി ശ്രിയെയും (ലക്ഷ്മിയെയും) നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; അഭിമാനത്തെയും. കരുണയും ഭയവും—ഇവ രണ്ടും ചുറ്റിപ്പറ്റിയവന് മഹത്ത്വം കൈവരിക്കാനാവില്ല.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Duryodhana’s hard-edged political ethic: he treats contentment as an obstacle to wealth and rule, and views compassion and fear as weaknesses that block ‘greatness.’ It illustrates a value-system opposed to dharmic restraint, where success is pursued by suppressing empathy and hesitation.
In Sabha Parva, Duryodhana is articulating his outlook on power and achievement. He argues that a ruler (or aspirant to greatness) must not be satisfied with what he has, nor be held back by pity or fear—revealing the mindset that fuels his hostility and relentless pursuit of dominance.