Mahabharata — Sabha Parva, Shloka 1
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
अफड--रू- द्विपञज्चाशत्तमो<ड ध्याय: युधिष्ठिरको भेंटमें मिली हुई वस्तुओंका दुर्योधनद्वारा वर्णन दुर्योधन उवाच दायं तु विविध तस्मै शृणु मे गदतो5नघ । यज्ञार्थ राजभिर्दत्तं महान्तं धनसंचयम्
duryodhana uvāca | dāyaṃ tu vividhaṃ tasmai śṛṇu me gadataḥ anagha | yajñārthaṃ rājabhir dattaṃ mahāntaṃ dhana-saṃcayam ||
Duryodhana dit : «Écoute maintenant mes paroles, ô irréprochable, tandis que je lui décris les multiples formes du tribut : une immense accumulation de richesses, donnée par les rois pour les besoins du sacrifice.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames royal wealth as tied to yajña (sacrificial duty): kings contribute resources for ritual and public-religious purposes, highlighting how political power and wealth are ideally subordinated to dharmic ends—though in the Sabha context it also becomes fuel for rivalry and resentment.
In the royal assembly setting, Duryodhana begins recounting the vast and varied tribute/wealth that has come to Yudhiṣṭhira (notably in connection with sacrificial rites), setting up his reaction to the Pāṇḍavas’ prosperity and the tensions that follow.