Shloka 8
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
यह शकुनि कहता है कि तुम्हारी कान्ति फीकी पड़ गयी है। तुम सफेद और दुबले हो गये हो; परंतु मैं बहुत सोचनेपर भी तुम्हारे शोकका कोई कारण नहीं देखता ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | śakuniḥ kathayati—tava kāntiḥ phīkā jātā; tvaṃ śvetaś ca kṛśaś ca jātaḥ; tathāpi bahu cintayann api tava śokasya kāraṇaṃ na paśyāmi || aiśvaryaṃ hi mahat putra tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | bhrātaraḥ suhṛdaś caiva nācaranti tavāpriyam ||
Vaiśampāyana sagte: Śakuni bemerkte: „Dein Glanz ist erloschen; du bist blass und mager geworden. Und doch sehe ich, so sehr ich auch nachsinne, keinen Grund für deinen Kummer. Denn, mein Sohn, die ganze Last dieser großen Herrschaft ruht auf dir. Deine Brüder und deine Wohlgesinnten handeln niemals gegen deinen Wunsch.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political counsel can reframe a ruler’s emotions: Śakuni minimizes the legitimacy of sorrow by pointing to external success—power, support, and obedience—implying that grief is irrational when sovereignty is secure. Ethically, it foreshadows how attachment to status can be used to manipulate judgment.
In the Sabha Parva setting, Śakuni addresses the Kaurava prince (contextually Duryodhana), noticing his diminished radiance and asking why he grieves. He argues that Duryodhana holds great royal power and that his brothers and allies do not oppose him, thereby questioning the basis of his distress.