Shloka 29
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
तथैव पश्िमं यान्ति गृहीत्वा भरतर्षभ । उत्तरं तु न गच्छन्ति विना तात पतत्त्रिण:
tathaiva paścimaṃ yānti gṛhītvā bharatarṣabha | uttaraṃ tu na gacchanti vinā tāta patattriṇaḥ ||
Duryodhana nói: “Cũng như thế, hỡi bậc tráng kiệt của dòng Bharata, họ đi về phương Tây sau khi đã đoạt lấy (chiến lợi). Nhưng họ không đi về phương Bắc, thưa người đáng kính, nếu không có chim.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political actors may rely on customary signs (directional movement, birds as omens) to justify or interpret decisions. Ethically, it invites reflection on the limits of omen-based reasoning when weighed against dharma and responsible counsel.
Duryodhana is speaking in the Sabha Parva and argues from observed patterns and omens: after seizing something, ‘they’ go westward, but do not go north without birds. He uses this as persuasive support in a courtly discussion, framing events through auspicious/inauspicious indicators.