Shloka 25
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Saṃvāda on Restraint and Rājānīti
Chapter 50
कृतां विन्दुसरोरत्नैर्मयेन स्फाटिकच्छदाम् | अपश्यं नलिनीं पूर्णामुदकस्येव भारत
kṛtāṁ bindusaroratnair mayena sphaṭikacchadām | apaśyaṁ nalinīṁ pūrṇām udakasy eva bhārata bhārata |
杜尤陀那说道：“噢，婆罗多啊！在宾度萨罗婆湖畔，阿修罗摩耶以彼处取来的珠宝打造了一方人造莲池，镶嵌宝石，又以水晶石板覆面。我竟误以为那是满盈清水的池塘。待我提起衣裳欲下池时，毗摩塞那放声大笑。被敌人非凡的富丽所迷惑——而我自身又贫乏无依——我的傲气因此动摇。”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The episode highlights how pride and envy make a person vulnerable to humiliation and rash reactions. Misperception (illusion) becomes a moral trigger: instead of self-restraint, Duryodhana internalizes the insult, feeding resentment that later drives unethical choices and escalates conflict.
In the wondrous assembly complex built with Maya’s artistry, Duryodhana mistakes a crystal-covered, jewel-inlaid lotus-pond for real water. As he prepares to step in, Bhīma laughs at him. Duryodhana feels shamed and mentally unsettled by the Pandavas’ prosperity, intensifying his hostility.