Shloka 12
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
निचितं पर्वतेभ्यश्व हिरण्यं भूरिवर्चसम् । बलिं च कृत्स्नमादाय द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति वारिता:,राजन्! चन्दन और अगुरुकाष्ठ तथा कृष्णागुरुकाष्ठके अनेक भार, चर्म, रत्न, सुवर्ण तथा सुगन्धित पदार्थोकी राशि और दस हजार किरातदेशीय दासियाँ, सुन्दर-सुन्दर पदार्थ, दूर देशोंके मृग और पक्षी तथा पर्वतोंसे संगृहीत तेजस्वी सुवर्ण एवं सम्पूर्ण भेंट-सामग्री लेकर आये हुए राजालोग द्वारपर रोके जानेके कारण खड़े थे
nicitaṁ parvatebhyaś ca hiraṇyaṁ bhūrivarcasam | baliṁ ca kṛtsnam ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “And gold of great brilliance, gathered from the mountains, along with the entire tribute—bearing all these offerings—they stand at the gate, held back and prevented from entering.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal wealth and tribute, though impressive, become ethically charged when access and honor are controlled by gatekeeping; it points to the tension between rightful reception of guests/tributaries and the politics of exclusion driven by pride or rivalry.
Duryodhana describes splendid mountain-gathered gold and complete tribute being brought, yet the bearers are stopped and made to stand at the gate, indicating a disruption in courtly reception and foreshadowing resentment and conflict within the royal setting.