Shloka 19
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
एकैकश: समर्था: स्मो विजेतु सर्वपार्थिवान् । आगच्छन्तु विनेष्यामो दर्पमेषां शितै: शरै:,“हममेंसे एक-एक वीर भी समस्त राजाओंको जीतनेकी शक्ति रखता है। शत्रुलोग आवें तो सही, हम अपने पैने बाणोंसे उनका घमंड चूर-चूर कर देंगे”
ekaikaśaḥ samarthāḥ smo vijetuṃ sarvapārthivān | āgacchantu vineṣyāmo darpam eṣāṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
“พวกเราทุกคนล้วนสามารถพิชิตบรรดากษัตริย์ทั้งปวงได้ทีละคน ศัตรูจะมาก็มาเถิด—ด้วยศรอันคมกล้าของเรา เราจักบดขยี้ความโอหังของพวกเขาให้เป็นธุลี”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how pride and overconfidence (darpa) can become an ethical fault that drives one toward needless violence. Martial ability, when coupled with contempt for others, tends to harden positions and obstruct peace-making—an implicit warning about the moral danger of arrogance in leadership.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Duryodhana speaks defiantly, claiming that even a single warrior on his side could defeat all kings. He challenges the opposing forces to come and vows to shatter their pride with sharp arrows, signaling his refusal to yield or pursue reconciliation.