Shloka 12
ते वैरामा: पारदाश्व आभीरा: कितवै: सह । विविधं बलिमादाय रत्नानि विविधानि च,जो समुद्रतटवर्ती गृहोद्यानमें तथा सिन्धुके उस पार रहते हैं, वर्षद्वारा इन्द्रके पैदा किये हुए तथा नदीके जलसे उत्पन्न हुए नाना प्रकारके धान्योंद्वारा जीवन-निर्वाह करते हैं, वे वैराम, पारद, आभीर तथा कितव जातिके लोग नाना प्रकारके रत्न एवं भाँति-भाँतिकी भेंट-सामग्री--बकरी, भेड़, गाय, सुवर्ण, गधे, ऊँट, फलसे तैयार किया हुआ मधु तथा अनेक प्रकारके कम्बल लेकर राजद्वारपर रोक दिये जानेके कारण (बाहर ही) खड़े थे और भीतर नहीं जाने पाते थे
te vairāmāḥ pāradāśva ābhīrāḥ kitavaiḥ saha | vividhaṃ balim ādāya ratnāni vividhāni ca ||
Duryodhana said: “The Vairāmas, the Pāradāśvas, and the Ābhīras—together with the Kitavas—had come bearing diverse tributes and many kinds of precious goods. Yet, being stopped at the royal gate, they stood outside and could not enter.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal authority and court procedure regulate access to power: even those bringing legitimate tribute can be delayed at the gate. It implicitly points to the ethics of governance—whether a ruler’s household manages subjects and visitors with fairness, hospitality, and proper respect.
Duryodhana is describing groups from frontier regions who arrived with tribute and valuables. Because they were stopped at the palace gate, they remained outside and could not enter the royal presence, underscoring the crowded, controlled, and politically charged atmosphere around the court.