Shloka 23
दुर्योधनस्य बलिवर्णनम् — Duryodhana’s Description of Tribute at the Rājasūya
तं च यज्ञ तथाभूतं दृष्टवा पार्थस्य मातुल । यथा शक्रस्य देवेषु तथाभूतं महाद्युते:
duryodhana uvāca — taṃ ca yajñaṃ tathābhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthasya mātula | yathā śakrasya deveṣu tathābhūtaṃ mahādyuteḥ ||
Duryodhana sprach: „O mütterlicher Oheim Pārthas (Arjunas), ich sah, wie jenes Rājasūya-Opfer in solcher Pracht vollzogen wurde—wie Indras Opfer unter den Göttern. Beim Anblick des mächtigen Glanzes, der aus dem Erfolg der Pāṇḍavas erwuchs, brennt mein Herz vor Neid Tag und Nacht.“
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how envy (īrṣyā) distorts judgment: instead of rejoicing in a kinsman’s success or recognizing merit, Duryodhana’s fixation on status and comparison turns prosperity into inner suffering, setting the stage for unethical choices.
After Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya is completed with great splendour, Duryodhana speaks to Śakuni, comparing the sacrifice to Indra’s among the gods. His words reveal intense jealousy at the Pāṇḍavas’ rising power and prestige.