Shloka 23
दुर्योधनस्य बलिवर्णनम् — Duryodhana’s Description of Tribute at the Rājasūya
तं च यज्ञ तथाभूतं दृष्टवा पार्थस्य मातुल । यथा शक्रस्य देवेषु तथाभूतं महाद्युते:,दुर्योधनने कहा--मामाजी! मैंने देखा है, श्वेतवाहन महात्मा अर्जुनके अस्त्रोंके प्रतापसे जीती हुई यह सारी पृथ्वी युधिष्ठिरके वशमें हो गयी है। महातेजस्वी युधिष्ठिरका वह राजसूययज्ञ उसी प्रकार सम्पन्न हुआ है, जैसे देवताओंमें देवराज इन्द्रका यज्ञ पूर्ण हुआ था। यह सब देखकर मैं दिन-रात ईष्यासे भरा ठीक उसी प्रकार जलता रहता हूँ, जैसे ग्रीष्म- ऋतुमें थोड़ा-ला जल जल्दी सूख जाता है
duryodhana uvāca — taṃ ca yajñaṃ tathābhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthasya mātula | yathā śakrasya deveṣu tathābhūtaṃ mahādyuteḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “O maternal uncle of Pārtha (Arjuna), having seen that Rājasūya sacrifice accomplished in such grandeur—just as Indra’s sacrifice is among the gods—(I am consumed within). Seeing the mighty splendour that has arisen through the Pāṇḍavas’ success, my heart burns with envy day and night.”
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.