Shloka 22
कृष्णेन विदुरं प्रति आगमन-हेतु-निवेदनम् / Krishna explains the purpose of his coming to Vidura
मध्ये तिष्ठन् हस्त्यनीकस्य मन्दो रथाश्वयुक्तस्य बलस्य मूढ: । दुर्योधनो मनन््यते वीतभीति: कृत्स्ना मयेयं पृथिवी जितेति
madhye tiṣṭhan hastyanīkasya mando rathāśvayuktasya balasya mūḍhaḥ | duryodhano manyate vītabhītiḥ kṛtsnā mayeyaṃ pṛthivī jiteti ||
De pé no meio do corpo de elefantes — um exército guarnecido de carros e cavaleiros — Duryodhana, de entendimento obtuso e iludido, agora sem temor, imagina: “Conquistei toda esta terra.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that pride fueled by military strength can create moral blindness: Duryodhana’s fearlessness becomes arrogance, leading him to mistake temporary power and display of force for rightful, complete victory—an adharma-driven self-deception.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Duryodhana standing amid a formidable combined force of elephants, chariots, and horses. Seeing this might, Duryodhana becomes confident and concludes that he has effectively conquered the whole earth.