Shloka 24
Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra
स तु तेषां वच: श्रुत्वा सैनिकान् युद्धदुर्मदान् प्रेषयामास कौरव्य उत्सारयत तानिति,राजन्! उस सरोवरको गन्धर्वराजने घेर रखा है, यह देखकर वे राजसेवक जहाँ राजा दुर्योधन था, वहाँ लौट गये। जनमेजय! अपने सेवकोंका कथन सुनकर राजा दुर्योधनने युद्धके लिये उन्मत्त रहनेवाले सैनिकोंको यह आदेश देकर भेजा कि “गन्धर्वोको वहाँसे मार भगाओ'
sa tu teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sainikān yuddha-durmadān preṣayāmāsa kauravya utsārayata tān iti | rājan! asau sarovaro gandharva-rājñā gheritaḥ iti dṛṣṭvā te rāja-sevakā yatra rājā duryodhanaḥ āsīt tatra pratyāgatāḥ | janamejaya! sva-sevakānāṃ kathanaṃ śrutvā rājā duryodhanas tān yuddhāya unmatta-sainikān ājñāpayitvā preṣayāmāsa—“gandharvān tatra sthānāt mārayitvā bhāgaya” iti ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ao ouvir o relato de seus servidores, o rei Kaurava despachou soldados embriagados pelo orgulho da batalha, ordenando: “Expulsai-os!” Ó rei, vendo que o lago fora cercado pelo senhor dos Gandharvas, aqueles servidores reais retornaram ao lugar onde estava o rei Duryodhana. Ó Janamejaya, depois de escutar as palavras de seus servos, Duryodhana enviou suas tropas, enlouquecidas pela guerra, com o comando: “Abatei os Gandharvas e expulsai-os daquele lugar!”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and impulsive aggression—being “war-maddened”—can distort judgment. Instead of restraint or inquiry, Duryodhana responds to a warning by escalating violence, illustrating a recurring Mahābhārata ethic: unchecked arrogance invites humiliation and harm.
Royal attendants report that the lake is surrounded/controlled by the Gandharva king. On hearing this, Duryodhana orders and dispatches troops, commanding them to attack the Gandharvas and drive them away from the lake.