Shloka 25
Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra
तस्य तद् वचन श्रुत्वा राज्ञ: सेनाग्रयायिन: । सरो द्वैतवनं गत्वा गन्धर्वानिदमब्रुवन्,राजाका यह आदेश सुनकर उसकी सेनाके नायक द्वैतवन सरोवरके समीप जाकर गन्धर्वोंसे इस प्रकार बोले--
tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā rājñaḥ senāgrayāyinaḥ | saro dvaitavanaṁ gatvā gandharvān idam abruvan ||
Hearing those words of the king, the leaders at the head of his army went to the Dvaitavana lake and addressed the Gandharvas in this manner—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethic of carrying out one’s assigned duty—here, the army’s vanguard obeys the king’s directive—while hinting at the moral and practical consequences of acting under authority when the situation involves formidable, otherworldly powers.
After hearing the king’s words, the commanders leading the front of the army proceed to the Dvaitavana lake and begin speaking to the Gandharvas, setting up a direct confrontation or negotiation at the lakeside.