Shloka 5
Duryodhana’s Account of Gandharva Defeat and the Pandavas’ Intervention (दुर्योधनवर्णितो गन्धर्वसंग्रामः)
अथोपटदिष्ट: प्रतिसत्कृतश्न वृद्धेन राज्ञा कुरुसत्तमेन । प्रचोदित: संकथयाम्बभूव धर्मानिलेन्द्रप्रभवान् यमौ च,कुरुकुलमें श्रेष्ठ एवं वयोवृद्ध राजा धृतराष्ट्रने उसका बहुत आदर-सत्कार किया। जब वह आसनपर बैठ गया, तब महाराजके पूछनेपर युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, अर्जुन तथा नकुल- सहदेवके समाचार सुनाने लगा
atha upaṭadiṣṭaḥ pratisaṃskṛtaś ca vṛddhena rājñā kurusattamena | pracoditaḥ saṃkathayām babhūva dharmān anilendraprabhavān yamau ca ||
Then, having been duly instructed and respectfully honored by the aged king—foremost among the Kurus—he, when prompted, began to relate the account: the righteous conduct and condition of the twins born of the Wind-god and Indra, and of the other sons as well. In ethical tone, the verse highlights the king’s proper hospitality toward a guest and the ensuing truthful report concerning the Pāṇḍavas’ welfare and dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma in social conduct: a ruler should honor and properly receive a visitor or messenger, and the ensuing narration should be truthful and duty-oriented—centered on the welfare and righteous conduct of those being reported upon.
Vaiśampāyana describes how the aged Kuru king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) respectfully receives the person who has arrived and, when he asks, the visitor begins to recount news concerning the Pāṇḍavas—especially Bhīma and Arjuna (sons of Vāyu and Indra) and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva.