Shloka 15
Divākara-prasāda and the Establishment of Akṣaya-anna
Sūrya’s Favor and Inexhaustible Provision
ततो राजन् पार्थिवा: सर्व एव वैश्या इवास्मानुपतिष्ठ न्तु सद्य: । दुर्योधन: शकुनि: सूतपुत्र: प्रीत्या राजन् पाण्डुपुत्रान् भजन्तु,महाराज! यदि ऐसा हुआ तो भूमण्डलके समस्त राजा वैश्योंकी भाँति उपहार ले हम कौरवोंकी सेवामें शीघ्र उपस्थित होंगे। राजराजेश्वर! दुर्योधन, शकुनि तथा सूतपुत्र कर्ण प्रेमपूर्वक पाण्डवोंको अपनावें
tato rājan pārthivāḥ sarva eva vaiśyā ivāsmān upatiṣṭhantu sadyaḥ | duryodhanaḥ śakuniḥ sūtaputraḥ prītyā rājan pāṇḍuputrān bhajantu ||
Then, O King, let all the rulers of the earth at once come to attend upon us, bearing offerings like merchants. And, O King, let Duryodhana, Śakuni, and Karṇa the sūta’s son, out of genuine goodwill, align themselves with the sons of Pāṇḍu.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura presents an ethical ideal of kingship: stability and prosperity arise when rulers act from prīti (goodwill) and align with dharma—here, by reconciling with and honoring the Pāṇḍavas—so that allegiance becomes voluntary and legitimate rather than forced.
Vidura addresses the king and imagines a best-case political outcome: all regional kings promptly come with tribute and service, and key antagonists—Duryodhana, Śakuni, and Karṇa—set aside hostility and sincerely support the Pāṇḍavas.