Shloka 17
दुर्योधनस्य बलिवर्णनम् — Duryodhana’s Description of Tribute at the Rājasūya
पार्थान् सुमनसो दृष्ट्वा पार्थिवांश्ष वशानुगान् । कृत्स्नं चापि हितं लोकमाकुमारं कुरूद्गह
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pārthān sumanasaḥ dṛṣṭvā pārthivāṁś ca vaśānugān | kṛtsnaṁ cāpi hitaṁ lokam ā-kumārāṁ kuru-udgaha, kuruśreṣṭha |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als er die Söhne der Pṛthā (die Pāṇḍavas) heiteren Herzens sah, als er die Könige der Erde unter ihrem Einfluss folgen sah und die ganze Welt — Kinder wie Greise — ihnen wohlgesinnt fand, da erbleichte Duryodhana, der Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras. Denn der Ruhm der großgesinnten Pāṇḍavas war über alle Maßen gewachsen, und eben dieses Gedeihen weckte in ihm Neid und Unruhe.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how another’s success can become a moral test: public goodwill and righteous prosperity should inspire emulation and self-discipline, but envy distorts judgment and becomes the seed of adharma.
After witnessing the Pāṇḍavas’ rising glory—cheerful confidence, allied kings under their influence, and widespread popular support—Duryodhana becomes inwardly shaken and outwardly pale, signaling the growth of jealousy that will drive later conflict.