Shloka 18
Adhyāya 48 — Duryodhana’s Account of Tribute and the Provisioned Court (सभा पर्व, अध्याय ४८)
दुर्योधन उवाच अप्रमादेन सुह्ृदामन्येषां च महात्मनाम् । यदि शक््या विजेतुं ते तन््ममाचक्ष्व मातुल
duryodhana uvāca | apramādena suhṛdām anyeṣāṃ ca mahātmanām | yadi śakyā vijetuṃ te tan mamācakṣva mātula ||
Duryodhana disse: “Ó tio materno, se—pela vigilância incessante dos meus aliados e de outros homens nobres—for possível vencer os Pāṇḍavas por algum meio, então diz-me qual é esse meio.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the political-ethical tension between vigilance and intention: careful planning and constant alertness can be powerful, but when directed toward unjust ends (defeating rightful rivals through ‘some means’), the same ‘apramāda’ becomes morally ambiguous. It shows how strategic competence is not identical with dharma; the purpose and method determine ethical value.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana turns to his maternal uncle Śakuni for counsel. He asks whether there exists any workable plan—supported by the vigilance of allies and other influential figures—by which the Pāṇḍavas can be overcome, and requests Śakuni to disclose that plan.