Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana
Keśava-vākya aftermath
स त्वं विरुध्य तैवीरिरन्ये भ्यस्त्राणमिच्छसि । अशिष्टेभ्यो5समर्थे भ्यो मूढेभ्यो भरतर्षभ,“भरतश्रेष्ठ) तुम उन वीर पाण्डवोंसे विरोध करके दूसरे अशिष्ट, असमर्थ और मूढ़ मनुष्योंसे अपनी रक्षा चाहते हो
sa tvaṁ virudhya tair vīrair anyebhyaḥ trāṇam icchasi | aśiṣṭebhyo 'samarthebhyo mūḍhebhyo bharatarṣabha ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ ഭരതർഷഭാ! ആ വീര പാണ്ഡവരെ വിരോധിച്ച് നീ മറ്റുള്ളവരിൽ നിന്ന്—അശിഷ്ടരും അസമർത്ഥരും മൂഢരുമായവരിൽ നിന്ന്—രക്ഷ തേടുന്നു।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Sound dharmic judgment requires recognizing true strength and worth. Opposing capable, righteous heroes while seeking refuge among the unworthy and incompetent is portrayed as moral and strategic folly born of delusion.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel and critique, the speaker rebukes the addressed Bharata leader for choosing hostility toward the heroic side (understood as the Pāṇḍavas) and instead relying on inferior allies, highlighting the irrationality of that choice.