Shloka 34
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
दुर्योधनस्य वृद्धयर्थ योडजयत् पृथिवीं प्रभु: । स जित: पाण्डवै: शूरै:ः समरे बाहुशालिभि:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
duryodhanasya vṛddhy-arthaṁ yo ’jayat pṛthivīṁ prabhuḥ |
sa jitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūraiḥ samare bāhuśālibhiḥ ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— दुर्योधनस्य वृद्ध्यर्थं योऽजयत् पृथिवीं प्रभुः । स जितः पाण्डवैः शूरैः समरे बाहुशालिभिः ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of power gained through conquest for another’s ambition: even a ‘world-conquering’ champion can be overturned. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical horizon, martial prowess alone is not ultimate; outcomes also reflect the larger moral and karmic order governing the war.
Vaiśampāyana describes a reversal on the battlefield: the powerful warrior who had previously subdued realms to strengthen Duryodhana is now defeated in combat by the heroic, mighty-armed Pāṇḍavas.