Shloka 34
भीष्मस्य भीमसेन-निरोधः
Bhīṣma checks Bhīmasena; matched engagements intensify
तत्र मे संशयो जातस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छत: । यं समाश्रित्य कौन्तेया जयन्त्यस्मान् क्षणे क्षणे,इस विषयमें मुझे बड़ा भारी संदेह है; अतः मेरे प्रश्नके अनुसार आप उसका उत्तर दीजिये। किसका आश्रय लेकर ये कुन्तीके पुत्र क्षण-क्षणमें हमलोगोंपर विजय पा रहे हैं
tatra me saṁśayo jātas tan mamācakṣva pṛcchataḥ | yaṁ samāśritya kaunteyā jayanty asmān kṣaṇe kṣaṇe ||
Di sana timbul keraguan yang besar dalam hatiku; maka jawablah aku sebagaimana aku bertanya. Bersandar kepada siapakah putera-putera Kuntī itu sehingga mereka terus-menerus menewaskan kami, detik demi detik?
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key Mahābhārata insight: repeated success in war is often perceived as resting on a deeper support—right counsel, superior alliance, or dharmic/divine backing. Duryodhana’s doubt points to the ethical dimension of victory, not merely the mechanical one.
In the midst of the Bhīṣma Parva war setting, Duryodhana voices anxiety and asks to be told on whom the Pāṇḍavas rely, since they seem to gain victory over the Kauravas again and again.