Mahabharata · 5.62.31
॥
Devanāgarī
अङ्के कुरुष्व राजानं धृतराष्ट्र युधिष्ठिरम् ॥
युध्यतोर् हि द्वयोर् युद्धे नैकान्तेन भवेज् जयः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṅke kuruṣva rājānaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭra yudhiṣṭhiram ||
yudhyator hi dvayor yuddhe naikāntena bhavej jayaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अङ्केaṅkeon your lap; in your embrace
कुरुष्वkuruṣvamake; do
राजानंrājānaṃthe king; the lord
धृतराष्ट्रdhṛtarāṣṭraDhritarashtra; king Dhritarashtra
युधिष्ठिरम्yudhiṣṭhiramYudhishthira; king Yudhishthira
युध्यतोर्yudhyatorof two fighting; when two are at war
हिhiindeed; for
द्वयोर्dvayorof two; of both
युद्धेyuddhein battle; in combat
नैकान्तेनnaikāntenanot with certainty; not with full assurance
भवेज्bhavejwould be; may be
जयःjayaḥvictory; success
Translation
O king of kings, when Bhishma had said this after Karna had departed, laying down his weapons, Duryodhana, that foolish son of the son of Vichitravirya, addressed these words to the son of Shantanu.
Version
989a377621ba · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:56:08 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
This passage (5.62.31) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort for peace unfolds against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Key themes: Dhritarashtra, war. Dharma is revealed here through speech, the choice of an embassy, faithfulness to promises, and the responsibility of kings for the consequences of their decisions.