Mahabharata 7.96.14 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 96, Shloka 14
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
अस्मानेवोपजीवंस्त्वमस्माकं विप्रिये रत: । न हायं त्वां विजानामि मधुदिग्धमिव क्षुरम्
sañjaya uvāca |
asmān evopajīvaṁs tvam asmākaṁ vipriye rataḥ |
na hāyaṁ tvāṁ vijānāmi madhudigdham iva kṣuram |
tvarann ekarathenaiva sametya droṇam abravīt ||
సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—రాజా! నీ కుమారుడు దుర్యోధనుడు ఒక్క రథంలోనే తొందరగా ద్రోణాచార్యుని దగ్గరకు వెళ్లి ఇలా అన్నాడు— “మా ఆధారంతోనే మీరు జీవిస్తున్నారు; అయినా మా అప్రీతికరమైనదానిలోనే మీరు రతులై ఉన్నారు. మీరు తేనె పూసిన కత్తిలాంటి వారు—బయటికి తీపి, ఫలితంలో కోత—అని నేను ఎరుగలేదు।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of reducing relationships to transactions: Duryodhana assumes that because Droṇa is supported by the Kauravas, Droṇa must act only for their advantage. The ‘honey-smeared razor’ image warns that pleasing words or respectable appearances can conceal harmful intent—or, from another angle, that perceived betrayal often arises when one expects loyalty to be bought rather than grounded in dharma.
After battlefield reversals and panic in the Kaurava ranks, Duryodhana rushes alone in his chariot to Droṇa and confronts him. He accuses Droṇa of acting against Kaurava interests despite living on their patronage, likening him to a razor coated with honey—sweet outwardly but cutting in effect.
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