Shloka 54
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
संजय उवाच दुर्योधनं तव सुतं सलिलस्थं महायशा: । श्रुत्वा तु करुणं वाक्यमभाषत युधिषिर:
sañjaya uvāca duryodhanaṃ tava sutaṃ salilasthaṃ mahāyaśāḥ | śrutvā tu karuṇaṃ vākyam abhāṣata yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, Yudhiṣṭhira yang termasyhur, setelah mendengar kata-kata yang sarat pilu itu, lalu berkata kepada Duryodhana, puteramu, yang sedang berdiri di dalam air, demikianlah.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a setting shaped by violence and rivalry, the text highlights the ethical ideal of measured speech: Yudhiṣṭhira responds after hearing a sorrowful appeal, suggesting that dharma includes restraint, attentiveness, and moral clarity toward an enemy as well.
Sanjaya reports to the king that Yudhiṣṭhira, described as illustrious, hears a lamenting/compassionate statement and then addresses Duryodhana, who is positioned in water—setting up the ensuing exchange between the Pandava leader and the Kaurava prince.