भीष्मसेनापत्याभिषेकः
Bhīṣma’s Appointment as Commander-in-Chief
बन्धमाज्ञापयामास मम चापि सुयोधन: । न चतं लब्धवान् काम॑ दुरात्मा पापनिश्चय:,पापपूर्ण निश्चयवाले उस दुरात्मा दुर्योधनने तो मुझे भी कैद कर लेनेकी आज्ञा दे दी थी; परंतु वह उस मनोरथको पूर्ण न कर सका
bandham ājñāpayāmāsa mama cāpi suyodhanaḥ | na ca taṁ labdhavān kāmaṁ durātmā pāpaniścayaḥ ||
సుయోధనుడు నన్ను కూడా పట్టుకొని బంధించమని ఆజ్ఞాపించాడు; కానీ పాపనిశ్చయంతో నిలిచిన ఆ దురాత్ముడు ఆ కోరికను నెరవేర్చలేకపోయాడు.
कृष्ण उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical contrast between dharma-guided restraint and adharma-driven arrogance: a leader fixed in sinful intent may attempt grave wrongdoing—even against a revered envoy—but such schemes fail against righteousness and divine protection, and they further expose the perpetrator’s moral collapse.
In the pre-war negotiations, Kṛṣṇa recounts that Duryodhana (Suyodhana) went so far as to command Kṛṣṇa’s arrest. However, Duryodhana could not carry out or accomplish that plan, underscoring both his hostility and the futility of his attempt.