Shloka 12
मायासभायां दुर्योधनस्य अवमान-प्रसङ्गः
Duryodhana’s Humiliation in the Hall of Māyā
पृथिव्यां पार्थिवा: सर्वे अभ्यागच्छन् दिदृक्षव: । चार बाँह और तीन आँखवाले बालकके जन्मका समाचार सुनकर भूमण्डलके सभी नरेश उसे देखनेके लिये आये ।। ११ $ ।। तान् पूजयित्वा सम्प्राप्तान् यथाह स महीपति:
pṛthivyāṃ pārthivāḥ sarve abhyāgacchan didṛkṣavaḥ | caturbāhu-trinetravato bālakasya janma-samācāraṃ śrutvā bhūmaṇḍalasya sarve nareśāḥ taṃ draṣṭum ājagmuḥ || tān pūjayitvā samprāptān yathārhaṃ sa mahīpatiḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Mendengar kabar kelahiran seorang anak yang berlengan empat dan bermata tiga, semua raja di bumi—ingin menyaksikan pertanda itu sendiri—datang berdatangan. Sang penguasa pun menyambut para raja yang tiba dengan penghormatan yang patut, sesuai kedudukan mereka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights royal dharma in practice: extraordinary events draw public attention, but a ruler’s ethical duty remains steady—receiving guests and other kings with appropriate honor (yathārham), maintaining order, respect, and propriety amid excitement and speculation.
News spreads of a wondrous child born with four arms and three eyes. Curious rulers from across the world gather to see the child, and the reigning king formally welcomes and honors them according to established royal etiquette.