Shloka 17

Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match

Devanagari script

सुजातय: श्रेणिमन्त: श्रेयांस: शस्त्रधारिण: । अहार्ष: क्षत्रिया वित्त शतशो5जातशत्रवे

Transliteration

sujātayaḥ śreṇimantaḥ śreyāṁsaḥ śastradhāriṇaḥ | ahārṣaḥ kṣatriyā vittaṁ śataśo ’jātaśatrave ||

Translation

દુર્યોધને કહ્યું—સુજાત, સુવ્યવસ્થિત, પ્રતિષ્ઠિત અને શસ્ત્રધારી ક્ષત્રિયો—સૈકડોની સંખ્યામાં—અજાતશત્રુ (યુધિષ્ઠિર)ને ધન કરરૂપે લાવી અર્પણ કરતા હતા.

Word by Word

सुजातयःwell-born (men)

श्रेणिमन्तःhaving ranks/companies (organized in bands)

श्रेयांसःexcellent, superior

शस्त्रधारिणःweapon-bearers

अहार्षुःthey brought/took away

क्षत्रियाःKshatriyas, warriors

वित्तम्wealth

शतशःby hundreds, in hundreds

अजातशत्रवेto Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira), 'one whose enemies are unborn'

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira)

kṣatriyas

wealth/tribute (vitta)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how visible signs of righteous sovereignty—order, strength, and widespread allegiance—manifest as voluntary or compelled tribute. Ethically, it also frames the seed of envy: another’s dharmic success and public honor can provoke resentment in those attached to status and comparison.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is describing the grandeur of Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial standing: numerous armed and eminent kṣatriyas arrive in organized groups and present wealth to him. This description functions as a report of Yudhiṣṭhira’s rising prestige and a catalyst for Duryodhana’s inner agitation.