Shloka 34
कृपाचार्य, द्रोणाचार्य और अश्वत्थामा--इन श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंको एवं मद्रराज शल्य, सिंधुराज जयद्रथ, कम्बोज-राज सुदक्षिण, कृतवर्मा, कर्ण, भूरिश्रवा, सुबलपुत्र शकुनि तथा महाबली बाह्नीक--इन राजाओंको पहले अपने सामने बुलाकर उन सबको पृथक्-पृथक् एक-एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाका नायक निश्चित करके विधि-पूर्वक उनका अभिषेक किया || ३१-- ३३ ॥।। दिवसे दिवसे तेषां प्रतिवेलं च भारत । चक्रे स विविधा: पूजा: प्रत्यक्ष च पुन: पुन:,भारत! दुर्योधन प्रतिदिन और प्रत्येक वेलामें उन सेनापतियोंका बारंबार विविध प्रकारसे प्रत्यक्ष पूजन करता था
divase divase teṣāṁ prativelaṁ ca bhārata | cakre sa vividhāḥ pūjāḥ pratyakṣaṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O Bhārata, day after day, and at every appointed time, Duryodhana repeatedly performed various honors for those commanders, paying them direct and public respect again and again.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a political-ethical principle of kingship: sustaining alliances and morale through consistent, visible honor. Public recognition (pratyakṣam) and regular ceremonial respect (pūjāḥ) are portrayed as tools to bind leaders to a cause, especially on the eve of war.
In the context of the Kauravas’ mobilization, Duryodhana repeatedly and openly honors his appointed commanders at regular intervals each day, reinforcing their status and loyalty as the conflict approaches.