Shloka 52
Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement
दुर्योधन उवाच कि कत्थितेन बहुना युद्धयस्वाद्य मया सह । अद्य तेडहं विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धां वकोदर
duryodhana uvāca: kiṁ katthitena bahunā? yudhyasvādya mayā saha | adya te ’haṁ vineṣyāmi yuddhaśraddhāṁ vṛkodara ||
Duryodhana nói: “Nói khoác nhiều để làm gì, hỡi Vṛkodara? Hôm nay hãy giao chiến với ta. Hôm nay, hỡi Vṛkodara, ta sẽ phá tan lòng tự tin của ngươi trong chiến trận.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how speech in war can become an instrument of ego and intimidation: Duryodhana dismisses words and aims to shatter the opponent’s inner steadiness. Ethically, it contrasts true valor (grounded in discipline and dharma) with mere taunting meant to destabilize.
During the climactic confrontation in Śalya Parva, Duryodhana directly challenges Bhīma (Vṛkodara), rejecting his talk as boasting and demanding immediate combat, declaring he will crush Bhīma’s battle-confidence that very day.