Shloka 54
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
संजय उवाच दुर्योधनं तव सुतं सलिलस्थं महायशा: । श्रुत्वा तु करुणं वाक्यमभाषत युधिषिर:
sañjaya uvāca duryodhanaṃ tava sutaṃ salilasthaṃ mahāyaśāḥ | śrutvā tu karuṇaṃ vākyam abhāṣata yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—அரசே! நீரில் நின்றிருந்த உன் மகன் துரியோதனனின் அந்த இரங்கலான சொற்களை கேட்ட மகாயசஸ்வி யுதிஷ்டிரன் அவனிடம் இவ்வாறு பேசினான்.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a setting shaped by violence and rivalry, the text highlights the ethical ideal of measured speech: Yudhiṣṭhira responds after hearing a sorrowful appeal, suggesting that dharma includes restraint, attentiveness, and moral clarity toward an enemy as well.
Sanjaya reports to the king that Yudhiṣṭhira, described as illustrious, hears a lamenting/compassionate statement and then addresses Duryodhana, who is positioned in water—setting up the ensuing exchange between the Pandava leader and the Kaurava prince.