Shloka 22
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
स भीष्म: सुसमर्थोडयमस्माभि: सहितो रणे । परान् विजेतुं तस्मात् ते व्येतु भीर्भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! वे ही पूर्ण सामर्थ्यशाली भीष्म युद्धमें शत्रुओंको जीतनेके लिये हमारे साथ हैं; अत: आपका भय दूर हो जाना चाहिये
sa bhīṣmaḥ susamartho ’yam asmābhiḥ sahito raṇe | parān vijetuṃ tasmāt te vyetu bhīr bharatarṣabha ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Bhīṣma ini benar-benar berkeupayaan, dan dia berdiri bersama kami di medan perang untuk menewaskan musuh. Maka, wahai banteng di antara kaum Bharata, lenyapkanlah ketakutanmu.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leaders bolster morale by pointing to capable allies; ethically, it also shows Duryodhana grounding confidence in military strength and support rather than self-scrutiny or reconciliation.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duryodhana reassures an addressed Kuru/Bharata noble that fear should vanish because Bhīṣma—renowned and fully capable—will fight on their side and can defeat the opponents.