In plain words
At last he recognised the Satya: ‘Mother! I have heard of this here and there. But never once have I heard this Satya directly from my mother. The Pāṇḍavas really are my brothers! I am indeed Kuntī Devī's son!’ he said; and then, ‘At this moment, should I be taking my mother's command upon my head? Or should I be showing my gratitude to Duryodhana, the lord who brought me to so high a place?’: he fell into a sharp dilemma. ‘Duryodhana himself honoured me that day, made me a king and made me all that I am! Wicked he may be, evil he may be, of bad conduct he may be, but that Duryodhana alone gave me this honour. I cannot betray such a man. I am ready to give even my life. But I will not betray him. Yet you are my mother, so I will make you one promise. The promise I must give my mother is one thing; my duty to my lord Duryodhana is another. These two are like two wings. They are like two wheels. Without these two my life would be wasted. Mother! As you command, when I get the chance on the battlefield I will let Dharmaja, Bhīma, Nakula and Sahadeva go without killing them. I will not harm them in the least. But Arjuna I will not spare. If I die in this war, you will still have five sons, the five Pāṇḍavas. Or if Arjuna dies, even then we are five for you! I will come in Arjuna's place. If I die, Arjuna comes in my place. So your five sons will be no fewer at all. In this way I give you my promise,’ he said. Having said this, he held the feet of Kuntī Devī, his mother: ‘Mother! That day, in the full assembly, Duryodhana saved my honour. Duryodhana is evil, I know. The Pāṇḍavas are embodiments of Dharma; that too I know. But he saved me. If I forget that good turn, I become lower than the wild beasts of the forest. So it is my duty to show that gratitude. So all my life I give thanks to my master. In this, at least, there will be no change in me at all,’ he said. Then Kuntī Devī: ‘Even for the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa there is an atonement.