Shloka 29
दुर्योधनस्य बलिवर्णनम् — Duryodhana’s Description of Tribute at the Rājasūya
श्रियं तथा55गतां दृष्टवा ज्वलन्तीमिव पाण्डवे । अमर्षवशमापन्नो दह्मामि न तथोचित:,पाणए्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरके समीप प्राप्त हुई उस प्रकाश-मयी लक्ष्मीको देखकर मैं ईरष्यावश जल रहा हूँ। यद्यपि मेरी यह दुरवस्था उचित नहीं है
śriyaṃ tathāgatāṃ dṛṣṭvā jvalantīm iva pāṇḍave | amarṣavaśam āpanno dahyāmi na tathocitaḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “Seeing that radiant prosperity come to the son of Pāṇḍu—blazing as if on fire—I am seized by intolerant envy and burn within. Yet this wretched state of mine is not fitting.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse exposes envy (amarṣa) as a self-consuming inner fire: even when one recognizes that such resentment is improper, attachment to status and comparison can overpower judgment. It highlights the ethical ideal of rejoicing in others’ rightful prosperity rather than being ruled by jealousy.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana witnesses the Pāṇḍavas’ rising splendor—especially Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal fortune—and confesses that he is burning with envy. This admission foreshadows his hostility and the escalation toward conflict.