Shloka 18

Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधन: प्रेष्यानादिदेश सहस्रश: । आक्रीडावसथा: क्षिप्रं क्रियन्तामिति भारत

Transliteration

tato duryodhanaḥ preṣyān ādiśeśa sahasraśaḥ | ākrīḍāvasathāḥ kṣipraṃ kriyantām iti bhārata ||

Translation

Kemudian Duryodhana memerintahkan para pelayannya, beribu-ribu jumlahnya: “Wahai Bhārata, siapkan segera taman-taman hiburan dan tempat-tempat peristirahatan.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्मात्/ततः = thereafter/from there)

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रेष्यान्: servants/attendants
• प्रेष्यान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आदिदेश: commanded/ordered
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दिश्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सहस्रशः: by thousands; in great numbers
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• आक्रीडावसथाः: play-grounds and dwellings/camps
• आक्रीडावसथाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आक्रीडावसथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण)

• क्रियन्ताम्: let (them) be made/constructed
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ
• Form: लोट् (कर्मणि/आत्मनेपद), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• preṣyāḥ (attendants/servants)
• ākrīḍā (pleasure-grounds)
• vasatha (lodgings/quarters)
• Bhārata (address)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse implicitly contrasts efficient command and resource-mobilization with the ethical question of what such efficiency serves—comfort, display, and dominance versus restraint and dharma. It invites reflection on how leadership choices reveal inner priorities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana, after the preceding developments in the episode, directs a large number of attendants to quickly arrange recreational grounds and lodging facilities, indicating immediate preparations for a stay or event with an emphasis on comfort and organization.