Shloka 18
Saṃśaptaka-Varūthinī Saṅgrāma — Binding and Counter-Binding (संशप्तक-वरूथिनी-संग्रामः)
दासीनां निष्ककण्ठीनां मागधीनां शतं तथा । प्रत्यग्रवयसां दद्यां यो मे ब्रूयाद् धनंजयम्,'जो मुझे अर्जुनका पता बता देगा, उसे मैं सोनेके कण्ठहारोंसे विभूषित मगधदेशकी सौ नवयुवती दासियाँ दूँगा
dāsīnāṁ niṣkakaṇṭhīnāṁ māgadhīnāṁ śataṁ tathā | pratyagravayasāṁ dadyāṁ yo me brūyād dhanañjayam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Siapa pun yang memberitahuku di mana Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) berada, kepadanya akan kuberikan seratus dayang dari Magadha—berkalungkan emas dan sedang mekar dalam kesegaran usia muda.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the pressure of war, leaders may resort to material inducements and the objectification of people to gain information—inviting reflection on the ethical costs of victory-driven decision-making.
A reward is proclaimed for intelligence about Arjuna’s whereabouts: whoever reveals Dhanañjaya’s location will be given a hundred young Magadhan maidservants adorned with golden neck-ornaments.