Shloka 21
एन॑ नित्यमुपासन्त कुरव: किंकरा यथा । सर्वे च राजन् राजानो धनेश्वरमिवामरा:,राजन! जैसे देवगण धनाध्यक्ष कुबेरका दरबार किया करते हैं, वैसे ही सब राजा और कौरव किंकरोंकी भाँति इनकी नित्य उपासना करते थे
enaṁ nityam upāsanta kuravaḥ kiṅkarā yathā | sarve ca rājan rājāno dhaneśvaram ivāmarāḥ ||
Arjuna said: “O King, the Kauravas used to attend upon him constantly, like servants. Indeed, all the kings would pay him homage—just as the gods attend upon the Lord of Wealth (Kubera).”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how worldly authority and wealth attract continual attendance and deference: even proud kings may behave like attendants before a figure of great power, just as the gods honor Kubera. It implicitly contrasts external prestige with inner worth, reminding that social reverence often follows prosperity and influence.
Arjuna addresses King Virata and describes the extraordinary status of a certain person (contextually, a highly powerful/wealthy figure): the Kauravas and other kings regularly paid him court, serving him like retainers, in a manner comparable to the gods attending Kubera.