Shloka 39
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो<5स्याक थयद्ू राजा दुर्योधनसमागमम् | तच्च शुश्रूषितं सर्व वरदानं च भारत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--भारत! तदनन्तर राजा शल्यने दुर्योधनके मिलने, सेवा- शुश्रूषा करने और उसे अपने वरदान देनेकी सारी बातें कह सुनायीं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato 'syākathayad rājā Duryodhana-samāgamam | tac ca śuśrūṣitaṃ sarvaṃ varadānaṃ ca Bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then King Śalya recounted to him, O Bhārata, the entire account—how he came to meet Duryodhana, how he rendered him service and attendance, and how he granted him a boon.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of service and promised boons: once hospitality is accepted and a favor is granted, it creates obligations that can influence later choices—even in a context as fraught as the lead-up to war.
Śalya reports the full story of his encounter with Duryodhana—how the meeting occurred, what service he rendered, and how he ended up granting Duryodhana a boon—setting up the consequences of that promise in the unfolding conflict.