Shloka 19
कर्णप्रावरणाश्रैव बहवस्तत्र भारत । तत्रस्था द्वारपालैस्ते प्रोच्यन्ते राजशासनात् | कृतकाला: सुबलयस्ततो द्वारमवाप्स्यथ,भारत! वंग, कलिंग, मगध, ताग्रलिप्त, पुण्ड्रक, दौवालिक, सागरक, पत्रोर्ण, शैशव तथा कर्णप्रावरण आदि बहुत-से क्षत्रियनरेश वहाँ दरवाजेपर खड़े थे तथा राजाज्ञासे द्वारपालगण उन सबको यह संदेश देते थे कि आपलोग अपने लिये समय निश्चित कर लें। फिर उत्तम भेंट-सामग्री अर्पित करें। इसके बाद आपलोगोंको भीतर जानेका मार्ग मिल सकेगा
karṇaprāvaraṇāś caiva bahavas tatra bhārata | tatrāsthā dvārapālaiś te procyante rājaśāsanāt | kṛtakālāḥ subalayas tato dvāram avāpsyatha bhārata ||
Duryodhana said: “O Bhārata, many kings—among them the Karṇaprāvaraṇas and others—were standing there at the gate. By the king’s command, the doorkeepers addressed them: ‘Fix your appointed time, and then, with your offerings duly prepared, you will obtain entry through the door.’”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal power operates through controlled access: entry to the court is regulated by time-slots and offerings, showing hierarchy and the ethics of political gatekeeping—who is allowed to approach authority, and under what conditions.
Duryodhana describes the scene at the royal gate: many kings are waiting outside, and the doorkeepers, acting on the king’s orders, instruct them to schedule their turn and present suitable gifts before they can be admitted.