Shloka 20

Devanagari script

दुर्योधन उवाच अहं दातास्मि रत्नानां धनानां च विशाम्पते

Transliteration

duryodhana uvāca: ahaṃ dātāsmi ratnānāṃ dhanānāṃ ca viśāmpate

Translation

Duryodhana said: “O lord of the people, I am a giver of jewels and of wealth.”

Word by Word

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• दाता: giver
• दाता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, First, Singular

• रत्नानाम्: of jewels
• रत्नानाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• धनानाम्: of wealth
• धनानाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• विशाम्पते: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• ratna (jewels)
• dhana (wealth)
• viśāmpati (addressed ruler/king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dāna (giving) as a recognized royal virtue, but in the Sabhā narrative it also invites ethical reflection: generosity can be genuine dharma when rooted in humility and right intention, yet it can become a tool of self-glorification and political competition when driven by pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly setting of the Sabhāparvan, Duryodhana speaks in a tone of self-assertion, proclaiming his ability to bestow jewels and wealth. The statement functions as a claim to status and influence within the courtly rivalry that characterizes this section of the epic.