Shloka 34
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
ददौ दुर्योधनो राजा पावकाय महात्मने । सहदेवने दक्षिण दिशाकी विजय करते समय वहाँ अग्निदेवको प्रत्यक्ष देखा था। अग्निदेवके वहाँ रहना स्वीकार कर लेनेपर राजा दुर्योधनने अपनी कन्याको सुन्दर वस्त्र पहनाकर नाना प्रकारके आभूषणोंसे अलंकृत करके महात्मा अग्निके हाथमें दे दिया |। ३३ *3॥ प्रतिजग्राह चाग्निस्तु राजकन्यां सुदर्शनाम्
dadau duryodhano rājā pāvakāya mahātmane | sahadevena dakṣiṇa-diśāyā vijayaṃ kurvatā tatra agnidevaḥ pratyakṣaṃ dṛṣṭaḥ | agnidevasya tatra sthitiṃ svīkṛtya rājā duryodhanaḥ svāṃ kanyāṃ sundara-vastra-paridhānāṃ nānā-vidhair ābharaṇair alaṅkṛtāṃ kṛtvā mahātmanaḥ agneḥ haste dadau || pratijagrāha cāgnis tu rāja-kanyāṃ sudarśanām ||
Bhīṣma dit : Le roi Duryodhana donna (sa fille) au magnanime Pāvaka (Agni). Lorsque Sahadeva soumettait le quartier du sud, il avait vu de ses propres yeux le dieu du Feu demeurer en ce lieu. Après qu’Agni eut accepté d’y résider, le roi Duryodhana fit revêtir à sa fille de beaux vêtements, la para de nombreux ornements et la remit entre les mains du noble Feu. Et Agni, à son tour, accepta la princesse d’une grande beauté.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension in royal acts of dāna (gift-giving): political authority often seeks divine endorsement, yet dharma demands scrutiny of what may be offered and on what grounds. It invites reflection on whether expedient offerings—especially involving a person—can be justified merely by ritual or power.
During Sahadeva’s campaign in the south, Agni is seen residing there. Duryodhana, acknowledging Agni’s presence and acceptance of that abode, ceremonially adorns his daughter and gives her to Agni; Agni accepts the princess.