Shloka 14
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
संतोषो वै श्रियं हन्ति ह्भिमानं च भारत । अनुक्रोशभये चोभे यैर्व॒ृतो नाश्वुते महत्
santoṣo vai śriyaṃ hanti hy abhīmānaṃ ca bhārata | anukrośabhaye cobhe yair vṛto nāśnute mahat ||
Duryodhana nói: “Hỡi Bhārata, sự mãn nguyện quả thật giết chết phú quý, và cũng giết chết chí tiến thủ. Lại nữa, lòng trắc ẩn và nỗi sợ—khi một người bị chúng vây bủa—sẽ ngăn người ấy đạt đến vĩ đại.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Duryodhana’s hard-edged political ethic: he treats contentment as an obstacle to wealth and rule, and views compassion and fear as weaknesses that block ‘greatness.’ It illustrates a value-system opposed to dharmic restraint, where success is pursued by suppressing empathy and hesitation.
In Sabha Parva, Duryodhana is articulating his outlook on power and achievement. He argues that a ruler (or aspirant to greatness) must not be satisfied with what he has, nor be held back by pity or fear—revealing the mindset that fuels his hostility and relentless pursuit of dominance.