Equal
- Birth and Status: Duryodhana was born on the same day as Bhima, making them of the same age.
- Mace Fighting Instruction: Both Duryodhana and Bhima received equal instruction in mace fighting from their gurus, Drona and Balarama.
- Mace Fighting Skill (Technique): Duryodhana was considered an exceptional mace fighter, often described as superior to everyone in mace-fight technique, even Bhima, by authorities like Balarama and Krishna. Bhima himself admitted Duryodhana was unslayable in a fair mace duel.
- Friendship with Karna: Their friendship is often portrayed as a relationship of equals, where Duryodhana supported Karna despite his low caste status, and Karna remained fiercely loyal to him.
- Kingship: According to some interpretations and local traditions (like the Malanada temple in Kerala), Duryodhana was a capable and just ruler to his people, equal in quality to previous kings like Shantanu.
Unequal (Inferior or Superior)
- Physical Strength (Brute Force): Bhima was physically much stronger than Duryodhana. Bhima's mace was even heavier than Duryodhana's. In childhood, Bhima often physically overpowered Duryodhana and his brothers.
- Overall Warrior Prowess: Duryodhana was considered inferior to Arjuna as an archer and overall warrior. Bhima was also considered a superior overall warrior due to his skill with all weapons, not just the mace.
- Dharma (Virtue/Duty): Duryodhana and his brothers were not seen on the same level as the Pandavas in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. The Pandavas were widely considered more "dharmic" (righteous).
- Claim to the Throne: Many believed the Pandavas, specifically Yudhishthira, had a more legitimate claim to the throne based on merit and the circumstances of their births, making Duryodhana's claim unequal in the eyes of many.
- Wisdom and Foresight: Duryodhana lacked spiritual knowledge and wisdom, often blinded by his ego and advised by Shakuni, which led to poor decisions and his eventual downfall. The Pandavas were guided by the wisdom of Krishna.
In summary, Duryodhana was highly skilled in specific areas like mace fighting technique and was a capable ruler, but was considered unequal in terms of physical strength compared to Bhima, and in virtue and overall warrior prowess compared to Arjuna and the Pandavas.
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