Shloka 42
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
ता निशम्य ततो वाच: सर्वयोधैरुदाह्ृता: । आगस्कृत् सर्वलोकस्य पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव
tā niśamya tato vācaḥ sarvayodhair udāhṛtāḥ | āgaskṛt sarvalokasya putro duryodhanas tava bhārata |
Sañjaya thưa: “Nghe những lời ấy được toàn thể chiến sĩ nói lớn, Duryodhana—con trai bệ hạ, kẻ đã gây tội với cả thiên hạ—liền nói với Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa và Śalya: ‘Hãy gạt bỏ kiêu mạn mà giao chiến. Sao còn chần chừ?’”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and hesitation can distort righteous action in war: Duryodhana urges senior commanders to abandon ego and act decisively, while the narration also marks him as morally culpable (“offender of the world”), reminding the reader that forceful leadership without dharmic restraint carries ethical blame.
After the warriors’ collective remarks are heard, Duryodhana turns to the chief elders and commanders—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Śalya—and presses them to begin fighting without delay, accusing them (implicitly) of holding back and demanding immediate action.