Shloka 28
न चेतयति वो राजा मन्दबुद्धि: सुयोधन: । योअस्मानाज्ञापयत्येवं वैश्यानिव दिवौकस:
na cetayati vo rājā mandabuddhiḥ suyodhanaḥ | yo 'smān ājñāpayaty evaṃ vaiśyān iva divaukasaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Your king Suyodhana, dull of understanding, does not reflect at all—he who issues commands to us in this manner, as though we were mere vaiśyas, even though we are dwellers of heaven.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler who lacks discernment and humility misuses authority—issuing degrading commands and ignoring the dignity of others—thereby undermining righteous kingship (dharma) and inviting conflict.
Vaiśampāyana characterizes Suyodhana (Duryodhana) as unreflective and arrogant, describing how he presumptuously orders “us” about as if they were low-status subjects, despite their being divaukasaḥ (celestial beings).