Shloka 40
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
न प्राणहेतोर्न भयान्न विषादाद विशाम्पते । इदमम्भ: प्रविष्टो5स्मि श्रमात् व्विदमनुछितम्
na prāṇahetoḥ na bhayān na viṣādād viśāmpate | idam ambhaḥ praviṣṭo 'smi śramād idam anucitam ||
துரியோதனன் கூறினான்—ஹே மக்கள்தலைவா! உயிரைக் காக்கவும் அல்ல, அச்சத்தாலும் அல்ல, துயரத்தாலும் அல்ல—நான் இந்த நீரில் இறங்கினேன். வெறும் களைப்பினாலே—இது ஒழுங்கற்றதாயினும்—இவ்வாறு செய்தேன்.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior-king’s concern for honor and public perception: Duryodhana insists his withdrawal into the water is not motivated by fear, self-preservation, or despair, but by exhaustion—implicitly framing courage as steadfastness even in defeat, and treating “unbecoming” conduct as something that requires justification.
In the aftermath of catastrophic losses, Duryodhana is confronted about hiding/entering the water. He responds defensively, addressing the other party as “lord of the people,” and claims he did not do so out of fear or despondency; rather, he entered the water only because he was worn out, even though he admits the act is improper.