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 ||
ドゥルヨーダナは言った。「大地の主よ。古の世、黄金で成る一つの都は天界にあり、白銀で成る一つの都は中界にあり、鉄で成る第三の都は地上にあった。授けられた命に従い、これらの都はあまねく諸方を巡り得て、古来名高かった。各々の都は縦横ともに百ヨージャナ、邸宅と高楼の塔に満ち、幾重もの城壁と壮麗な門で飾られていた。心を定めてこれを聞け。わが言に疑いを挟むには及ばぬ。」
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.