Shloka 22
दृढमूला वयं राज्ये मित्राणि परिगृह्म॒ च । सारवद् विपुलं सैन्यं सत्कृत्य च दुरासदम्
dṛḍhamūlā vayaṁ rājye mitrāṇi parigṛhya ca | sāravad vipulaṁ sainyaṁ satkṛtya ca durāsadam ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Kita akan menegakkan kedudukan dengan kukuh di kerajaan ini. Setelah menghimpunkan ramai sekutu, serta memuliakan dan menganugerahi sebuah angkatan tentera yang kuat, besar, dan sukar ditembusi, kita akan menjadikan kedudukan kita tidak tergoyahkan.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a political mindset: power is secured by rooting oneself in the state through alliances and by maintaining a formidable army via honors and rewards. Ethically, it invites reflection on how reliance on inducements and force can conflict with dharmic governance grounded in justice and restraint.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is articulating his plan to secure and stabilize his rule: gather many allies, strengthen the military, and keep it loyal through recognition and material support, thereby making his position difficult to challenge.