Shloka 20
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
पुरैकेन हि भीष्मेण विजिता: सर्वपार्थिवा: । मृते पितर्यतिक्रुद्धो रथेनेकेन भारत,भारत! पहलेकी बात है, अपने पिता शान्तनुकी मृत्युके पश्चात् भीष्मजीने किसी समय अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरकर एकमात्र रथकी सहायतासे अकेले ही सब राजाओंको जीत लिया था
purā ekena hi bhīṣmeṇa vijitāḥ sarvapārthivāḥ | mṛte pitari atikruddho rathena ekena bhārata ||
دریودھن نے کہا— “قدیم زمانے میں بھیشم نے اکیلے ہی تمام بادشاہوں کو فتح کیا تھا۔ اے بھارت، باپ کے انتقال کے بعد وہ سخت غضب میں بھر کر ایک ہی رتھ کے سہارے یہ کارنامہ کر گئے تھے۔”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how reputation and past feats are used to shape present decisions: Duryodhana invokes Bhīṣma’s earlier, near-mythic victory to strengthen resolve for war. Ethically, it also hints at the danger of letting anger and pride become the basis for policy, even when the hero invoked (Bhīṣma) is personally bound by vows and duty.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duryodhana speaks to bolster confidence in the Kaurava side. He recalls an episode where Bhīṣma, after Śāntanu’s death and in great wrath, is said to have subdued many kings alone with a single chariot—presenting Bhīṣma as a decisive force in the impending conflict.