Shloka 18
Chapter 61: Karṇa’s martial assurances and Bhīṣma’s strategic rebuttal in the Kuru assembly
तथोक्तवाक्ये नृपतीन्द्र भीष्मे निक्षिप्य शस्त्राणि गते च कर्णे वैचित्रवीर्यस्य सुतो 5ल््पबुद्धि- दुर्योधन: शान्तनवं बभाषे,जनमेजय! जब भीष्मजीने ऐसी बात कही और कर्ण हथियार फेंककर चला गया, उस समय मन्दबुद्धि धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधनने शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मसे इस प्रकार कहा
tathoktavākye nṛpatīndra bhīṣme nikṣipya śastrāṇi gate ca karṇe | vaicitravīryasya suto 'lpabuddhir duryodhanaḥ śāntanavaṁ babhāṣe, janamejaya ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: “Ó Janamejaya, quando Bhīṣma — o mais eminente entre os reis — falou assim, e quando Karṇa, lançando fora as armas, se retirou, então Duryodhana, filho de Vicitravīrya, de pouco discernimento, dirigiu-se a Bhīṣma, filho de Śantanu, nestes termos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral contrast: wise counsel and restraint (embodied by Bhīṣma’s prior words) meet the reaction of diminished discernment (alpa-buddhi) in Duryodhana. It highlights how ego and attachment to power can cause one to resist dharmic advice, especially when allies (like Karṇa) withdraw in protest or frustration.
After Bhīṣma has spoken, Karṇa lays aside his weapons and leaves. In that moment, Duryodhana—identified as Vicitravīrya’s son by lineage—turns to Bhīṣma (Śantanu’s son) and begins to speak, setting up the next exchange in the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations.