Shloka 56
दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद् युद्धुलालस: । रात्रिमें होनेवाले इस संग्रामका समाचार पाकर रणभूमिमें भीमसेनको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे वह मतवाले हाथी और क्रोधमें भरे हुए सर्पकी भाँति युद्धकी लालसा मनमें रखकर दुर्योधनसे इस प्रकार बोला--
sañjaya uvāca | duryodhanam idaṃ vākyam abravīd yuddhulālasaḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद् युद्धलालसः। रात्रौ प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे भीमसेनवधैषिणः॥ मत्तद्विप इवोन्मत्तः क्रुद्धसर्प इवापरः॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked anger and vengeance can dominate judgment in war, pushing leaders toward ever harsher choices; it implicitly warns that ethical restraint (dharma) erodes when the mind becomes 'battle-hungry' and driven by personal hatred.
Sanjaya narrates that a warrior, eager for combat and intent on killing Bhimasena, speaks to Duryodhana upon hearing of an impending night battle, signaling a turn toward more desperate and morally fraught tactics.