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 ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, kepuasan hati benar-benar membunuh kemakmuran, dan juga memusnahkan cita-cita (dorongan menegakkan diri). Dan belas kasihan serta ketakutan—apabila seseorang dikepung olehnya—menghalangnya daripada mencapai kebesaran.”
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.