Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 436
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
एकैक एपषां शक्तस्तु हन्तुं भारत पाण्डवान् । समेतास्तु क्षणेनैतान् नेष्यन्ति यमसादनम् । भारत! भीष्म
ekaika eṣāṁ śaktas tu hantuṁ bhārata pāṇḍavān | sametās tu kṣaṇenaitān neṣyanti yamasādanam ||
ਦੁਰਯੋਧਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਭਾਰਤ! ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਹਰ ਇੱਕ ਯੋਧਾ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਹੀ ਪਾਂਡਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਸਕਣ ਦੇ ਯੋਗ ਹੈ; ਪਰ ਜੇ ਇਹ ਸਭ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ ਪਲ ਭਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਯਮ ਦੇ ਧਾਮ ਭੇਜ ਦੇਣਗੇ।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how confidence in force and numbers can fuel adharma: Duryodhana measures righteousness by military capability, revealing pride and a readiness to intensify violence rather than seek a just settlement.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and mobilization, Duryodhana asserts that his leading champions—each individually, and certainly together—can quickly destroy the Pāṇḍavas, projecting intimidation and certainty of victory.