Shloka 13
Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra
मत्तभ्रमरजुष्टानि बर्हिणाभिरुतानि च । अगच्छदानुपूर्व्येण पुण्यं द्वैतववनं सर:,भरतनन्दन! दुर्योधन अपने साथियोंसहित दूध आदि गोरसोंका उपयोग करता और भाँति-भाँतिके भोग भोगता हुआ वहाँके रमणीय वनों और उपवनोंकी शोभा देखने लगा। उनमें मतवाले भ्रमर गुंजार करते थे और मयूरोंकी मधुर वाणी सब ओर गूँज रही थी। इस प्रकार क्रमशः आगे बढ़ता हुआ वह परम पवित्र द्वैववननामक सरोवरके समीप जा पहुँचा
mattabhramarajuṣṭāni barhiṇābhirutāni ca | agacchadānupūrvyena puṇyaṃ dvaitavavanaṃ saraḥ, bharatanandana |
Vaiśampāyana said: As he proceeded step by step, O joy of the Bharatas, he came to the supremely sacred lake in the Dvaitavana. The woods and groves there were alive with the humming of intoxicated bees, and the sweet calls of peacocks resounded on every side. In this setting of abundance and pleasure, Duryodhana—enjoying rich foods and comforts with his companions—began to take in the beauty of the forest, a scene that quietly contrasts worldly indulgence with the sanctity of a holy place.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes a holy landscape (puṇya-saras in Dvaitavana) with a ruler’s enjoyment of sensual pleasures, hinting at an ethical tension: indulgence and pride can blind one to the sanctity of place and the restraint expected of kings, especially when approaching spaces associated with merit and spiritual power.
Vaiśampāyana describes the party’s gradual approach to the sacred lake in Dvaitavana. The forest is depicted as vibrant and beautiful—filled with humming bees and calling peacocks—setting the scene for Duryodhana’s arrival and his pleasure-seeking gaze upon the woods and groves.