Shloka 18
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Dialogue on Peace and the Refusal of Compromise
यावद्धि सूच्यास्तीक्ष्णाया विध्येदग्रेण मारिष । तावदप्यपरित्याज्यं भूमेर्न: पाण्डवान् प्रति,पूज्य पिताजी! तीखी सूईके अग्रभागसे जितनी भूमि बिंध सकती है, उतनी भी मैं पाण्डवोंको नहीं दे सकता
yāvad dhi sūcyās tīkṣṇāyā vidhyed agreṇa māriṣa | tāvad apy aparityājyaṃ bhūmer naḥ pāṇḍavān prati ||
Mahal na iginagalang, gaano man kaliit ang lupang kayang tusukin ng dulo ng matalim na karayom—kahit iyon lamang—hindi ko ibibigay sa mga Pāṇḍava ang alinmang bahagi ng aming nasasakupan.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how rigid attachment to power and property can override ethical compromise; Duryodhana’s refusal to yield even a needle-point of land exemplifies adharma-driven obstinacy that makes peaceful settlement impossible.
During the pre-war negotiations in the Udyoga Parva, Duryodhana states unequivocally that he will not give the Pāṇḍavas any portion of land—using the needle-tip measure to stress absolute denial—thereby escalating the conflict toward the Kurukṣetra war.