Shloka 37
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
ता गृहीत्वा नरास्तत्र द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति वारिता: | प्रीत्यर्थ ब्राह्मणाश्रैव क्षत्रियाश्व विनिर्जिता:
tā gṛhītvā narās tatra dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ | prītyarthaṃ brāhmaṇāś caiva kṣatriyāś ca vinirjitāḥ, upājahrur viśaś caiva śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣavas tathā ||
Dijo Duryodhana: «Tomadas aquellas ofrendas, los hombres se quedaron allí, a la puerta, retenidos y sin permiso para entrar. Para granjearse el favor, brahmanes, kṣatriyas conquistados, vaiśyas y śūdras deseosos de servir presentaban allí sus dones con una benevolencia mostrada hacia afuera».
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political dominance reshapes social behavior: even respected groups and defeated rulers offer gifts to secure favor. It implicitly raises an ethical tension between genuine respect and coerced or strategic displays of loyalty under power.
Duryodhana describes people arriving with offerings and being held at the palace gate. Various social groups—including conquered Kshatriyas and service-seeking Shudras—present gifts to please the ruling power, underscoring the atmosphere of tribute and controlled access at court.