Shloka 40
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
पशुवद् घातनं वा मे दहनं वा कटाग्निना | क्रियतां मूर्थ्नि वो न्यस्तं मयेदं सकल॑ पदम्,“तुमलोगोंमें साहस या शक्ति हो, तो पशुकी भाँति मेरी हत्या कर दो अथवा घास- फ़ूसकी आगमें मुझे जला दो। मैंने तो तुमलोगोंके मस्तकपर अपना यह पूरा पैर रख दिया
paśuvad ghātanaṃ vā me dahanaṃ vā kaṭāgninā | kriyatāṃ mūrdhni vo nyastaṃ mayedaṃ sakalaṃ padam |
ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า “หากพวกเจ้ามีความกล้าหรือมีกำลัง ก็จงฆ่าข้าเสียประหนึ่งสัตว์เดรัจฉาน หรือจงเผาข้าในกองไฟแห่งหญ้าแห้งเถิด เพราะข้าได้วางเท้าทั้งสิ้นของข้าไว้เหนือศีรษะของพวกเจ้าแล้ว”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse dramatizes the ethical tension between brute force and moral restraint: an insult is framed as so extreme that it invites violent retaliation, yet the narrative context of the Sabha Parva repeatedly tests whether power will be used as mere domination or governed by dharma and self-control.
A speaker, in a taunting and provocative tone, challenges others to kill or burn him if they have the courage, declaring that he has symbolically placed his entire foot upon their heads—an image of total humiliation and asserted superiority meant to inflame anger and provoke a response.