Shloka 19
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
पृथ्वीपते! सोनेका बना हुआ पुर स्वर्गलोकमें स्थित हुआ। चाँदीका अन्तरिक्षलोकमें और लोहेका भूलोकमें स्थित हुआ; जो आज्ञाके अनुसार सर्वत्र विचरनेवाला था ।।
pṛthvīpate! saunakaṃ bāṇa-bhūtaṃ puraṃ svargaloke sthitaṃ babhūva | cāndīkam antarikṣaloke lohakaṃ bhūloke sthitam; yad ājñānusāreṇa sarvatra vicarati sma || ekaikaṃ yojanaśataṃ vistārāyāmataḥ samam | gṛhāṭṭālakasaṃyuktaṃ bahu-prākāra-toraṇam, nibodha manasā cātra na te kāryā vicāraṇā ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai penguasa bumi! Satu kota—terbuat dari emas—berdiri di surga; yang lain—terbuat dari perak—berdiri di alam antara; dan yang ketiga—terbuat dari besi—berdiri di bumi. Dengan titah yang dianugerahkan, kota-kota itu bergerak ke segala penjuru dan termasyhur sejak zaman purba. Masing-masing kota berukuran seratus yojana panjang dan seratus yojana lebar, penuh dengan kediaman megah dan menara-menara tinggi, serta dihiasi banyak benteng dan gerbang. Pahami ini dengan pikiran teguh; jangan ragu atas ucapanku.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage uses a mythic example of extraordinarily fortified, boon-protected cities to underscore how power and protection can arise from granted authority and disciplined conditions—yet such grandeur can also feed pride and strategic persuasion in a war context.
Duryodhana addresses a king and recounts an ancient episode about three immense cities—gold in heaven, silver in the mid-region, and iron on earth—describing their vast dimensions and fortifications, and urging the listener to accept his account without doubt.