Geethartha Chinthane 53: Duryodhana’s Irritating Strategy

Pasheyaitam panduputranamacharya mahatim chamoom vyuedham drupadaputrena tava shisyena dhimata (Gita 3).

Duryodhana, feeling that Bhishmacharya is too soft and biased towards the Pandavas, deliberately bypasses him and approaches Dronacharya, addressing him as the teacher of the Pandavas.

Although Dronacharya had taught both the Pandavas and Kauravas, Duryodhana makes this comment to provoke him. Even though the Kauravas have an army of 11 Akshohinis compared to the Pandavas’ 7 Akshohinis, Duryodhana highlights his fear by pointing at the Pandava army and saying, “Look how they’ve gathered.” This is Duryodhana’s perception, not the reality. Fear makes the strength of the adversary seem larger than it is.

Duryodhana refers to Drishtadyumna, the commander of the Pandavas, as the ‘son of Drupada,’ emphasizing that he was born to kill Dronacharya. In reality, Drishtadyumna and Draupadi were born from the sacrificial fire pit organized by Drupada, not from Drupada himself. Yet, Duryodhana taunts Dronacharya by saying, “Look at the preparations of Drupada’s son, who was born to kill you.”

In doing so, Duryodhana not only attempts to provoke Dronacharya but also indirectly criticizes Bhishmacharya. This is a strategy of setting one against the other, creating internal conflict among the elders.

~ Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Sri Puthige Sri Krishna Matha

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