Shloka 19
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
कर्णप्रावरणाश्रैव बहवस्तत्र भारत । तत्रस्था द्वारपालैस्ते प्रोच्यन्ते राजशासनात् | कृतकाला: सुबलयस्ततो द्वारमवाप्स्यथ
karṇaprāvaraṇāś caiva bahavas tatra bhārata | tatrāsthā dvārapālaiś te procyante rājaśāsanāt | kṛtakālāḥ subalayas tato dvāram avāpsyatha bhārata ||
Dijo Duryodhana: «Oh Bhārata, muchos reyes—entre ellos los Karṇaprāvaraṇas y otros—estaban allí, de pie junto a la puerta. Por orden del rey, los porteros les decían: “Fijad vuestro tiempo señalado y, con vuestras ofrendas debidamente preparadas, obtendréis entonces la entrada por la puerta.”»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal power operates through controlled access: entry to the court is regulated by time-slots and offerings, showing hierarchy and the ethics of political gatekeeping—who is allowed to approach authority, and under what conditions.
Duryodhana describes the scene at the royal gate: many kings are waiting outside, and the doorkeepers, acting on the king’s orders, instruct them to schedule their turn and present suitable gifts before they can be admitted.