Shloka 15
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
प्रसादमेषां दास्यामि कुन्तीपुत्रो$नुमन्यताम् । दुर्योधनाय तत् सर्व कथयन्ति सम विस्मिता:
prasādam eṣāṁ dāsyāmi kuntīputro 'numanyatām | duryodhanāya tat sarvaṁ kathayanti sma vismitāḥ ||
“मैं इन सबको अपनी प्रसन्नता के फलस्वरूप पुरस्कार दूँगा; कुन्तीपुत्र युधिष्ठिर को भी मेरे इस आचरण का अनुमोदन करना चाहिए।” यह सुनकर सेवकगण विस्मित हो गए और उन्होंने वह सब बात दुर्योधन से कह सुनाई।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how acts framed as “favor” or “reward” can be used to seek moral endorsement from a dharmic authority (Kuntīputra/Yudhiṣṭhira), and how such public posturing quickly becomes political intelligence when reported to a rival (Duryodhana).
A speaker declares an intention to grant rewards and insists that Kuntī’s son should approve it; the servants, surprised by this claim and its implications, convey the full report to Duryodhana.