Shloka 60
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
पार्थिवा: स भवांस्तेभ्यो हकस्माद् व्यथते कथम् | परंतप! द्रोणाचार्य, अश्वत्थामा और कृपाचार्य भी उन्हींके समान महाधनुर्धर हैं। इनके सिवा 'संशप्तक” नामक क्षत्रियोंके समूह भी मेरे ही पक्षमें हैं; जो यह कहते हैं कि या तो हमलोग अर्जुनको मार डालेंगे या कपिध्वज अर्जुन ही हमें मार डालेंगे, तभी हमारे उनके युद्धकी समाप्ति होगी। वे सब नरेश अर्जुनके वधका दृढ़ निश्चय कर चुके हैं और उसके लिये अपनेको पर्याप्त समझते हैं। ऐसी दशामें आप उन पाण्डवोंसे भयभीत हो अकस्मात् व्यथित क्यों हो उठते हैं? || ५८-५९ ह ।। भीमसेने च निहते को<न्यो युध्येत भारत
pārthivāḥ sa bhavāṁs tebhyo hakasmād vyathate katham | paraṁtapa! droṇācārya, aśvatthāmā aura kṛpācārya bhī unhīṅke samān mahādhanurdhara haiṅ | inke sivā ‘saṁśaptaka’ nāmaka kṣatriyoṅke samūha bhī mere hī pakṣa meṅ haiṅ; jo yaha kahate haiṅ ki yā to ham log arjunako mār ḍāleṅge yā kapidhvaja arjuna hī hameṅ mār ḍālegā, tabhī hamāre-unke yuddha kī samāpti hogī | ve sab nareśa arjunake vadhakā dṛḍha niścaya kara chuke haiṅ aura uske liye apane-ko paryāpta samajhate haiṅ | aisī daśā meṅ āpa un pāṇḍavoṅse bhayabhīta ho akasmāt vyathita kyoṅ ho uṭhate haiṅ? ||
Duryodhana disse: “Ó rei, por que de súbito te abates diante daqueles soberanos? Ó abrasador de inimigos! Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā e Kṛpa são arqueiros poderosos, iguais a eles. Além disso, o grupo de kṣatriyas chamado Saṁśaptaka está do meu lado—homens que juraram que ou matarão Arjuna, ou Arjuna, o do estandarte do macaco, os matará; só então seu combate terá fim. Esses reis decidiram firmemente a morte de Arjuna e julgam-se plenamente suficientes para isso. Em tal situação, por que, temendo os Pāṇḍava, te perturbas de repente?”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how leaders use rhetoric—invoking allies, reputations, and solemn vows—to counter fear and restore resolve. Ethically, it shows the Kshatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle, but also exposes Duryodhana’s reliance on pride and overconfidence rather than self-scrutiny or reconciliation.
In Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Duryodhana addresses a wavering ally/king, arguing that the Kaurava side has formidable champions (Drona, Ashvatthama, Kripa) and the Saṁśaptakas who have sworn to fight Arjuna to the death; therefore, he questions why the listener is suddenly anxious about the Pāṇḍavas.