Shloka 39

Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration

Devanagari script

आहृतश्रैष्यति व्यक्त द्यूतादपि रणादपि,द्यृत अथवा युद्ध किसी भी उद्देश्यसे यदि उन्हें बुलाया जाय, तो वे अवश्य पधारेंगे

Transliteration

āhṛtaḥ śraiṣyati vyaktaṃ dyūtād api raṇād api | dyūte athavā yuddhe kasmād api prayojanād yadi tān āhūyate, te avaśyaṃ upasthāsyanti ||

Translation

Duryodhana said: “It is certain: if they are summoned—whether for a game of dice or even for battle—then, for whatever purpose, they will surely come.”

Word by Word

• आहृतः: having been summoned/called
• आहृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहृत (आ-√हृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रैष्यति: will come/approach
• श्रैष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रि (गत्यर्थे/आश्रयणे)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular

• व्यक्तम्: clearly/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: व्यक्त

• द्यूतात्: from gambling; from the dice-game
• द्यूतात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• रणात्: from battle
• रणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• dice (dyūta)
• battle/war (raṇa/yuddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how social and kṣatriya obligations—responding to a summons for dice or war—can be exploited. It invites reflection on the ethical difference between rightful duty and being maneuvered into adharma through manipulation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana expresses certainty that the other party will attend if formally called, whether to a dice match or to battle. This reflects his strategic confidence in using summons and protocol to draw them into a situation advantageous to him.