Mahabharata 9.3.51 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 3, Shloka 51
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
हर्षयन्निव तान् योधांस्ततो वचनमत्रवीत् | राजेन्द्र! तब युद्धका ही दृढ़ निश्चय रखनेवाले आपके पुत्रने उन समस्त सैनिकोंको खड़ा करके उनका हर्ष बढ़ाते हुए कहा-- || ५० ई ।।
harṣayann iva tān yodhāṁs tato vacanam abravīt | rājendra! tadā yuddhakāle hi dṛḍha-niścaya-rakṣaṇavān tava putras tān sarvān sainikān utthāpya teṣāṁ harṣaṁ vardhayann uvāca || nataṁ deśaṁ prapaśyāmi pṛthivyāṁ parvateṣu ca ||
യോദ്ധാക്കളുടെ ഹർഷം വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ അവൻ അപ്പോൾ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ രാജേന്ദ്ര! ഭൂമിയിലോ, പർവതങ്ങളിലോ പോലും, തലകുനിച്ച് (ശരണം ചേർന്ന്) സുരക്ഷിതനായി ഇരിക്കാവുന്ന ഒരു സ്ഥലവും ഞാൻ കാണുന്നില്ല.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the kṣatriya-war ethos that in a decisive battle one should not seek safety through submission; instead, a leader must steady the troops, strengthen resolve, and face consequences directly. Ethically, it shows how determination and rhetoric can rally an army even when the larger cause may be flawed.
Sañjaya narrates to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana, at the battle-time, assembled the Kaurava soldiers, made them stand ready, and spoke in a way that increased their enthusiasm—beginning with the assertion that he sees no safe refuge in any place on earth or in the mountains for one who bows down.
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