Shloka 17

भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces

Bhīṣma–Droṇa council

Devanagari script

तेषां दुर्योधनो राजा ससैन्यानां महात्मनाम्‌ | व्यादिदेश सवाह्यानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम्‌,राजा दुर्योधन सवारियों और सैनिकोंसहित उन महामना नरेशोंको परम उत्तम भक्ष्य- भोज्य पदार्थ देता था। हाथियों, अश्वों, पैदल मनुष्यों, शिल्प-जीवियों, अन्य अनुगामियों तथा सूत, मागध और बंदीजनोंको भी राजाकी ओरसे भोजन प्राप्त होता था

Transliteration

teṣāṁ duryodhano rājā sasainyānāṁ mahātmanām | vyādideśa savāhyānāṁ bhakṣyabhojyam anuttamam ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。軍勢と乗り物を伴って来集した高潔なる諸王のために、ドゥルヨーダナ王は比類なき食と糧秣を分配するよう命じた。この場面では、王の歓待が壮大に示される——王者の務めと政治的慎慮の外面的な演出として、迫る争いの前に忠誠をつなぎ、同盟を固めんがためである。

Word by Word

तेषाम्of them

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

राजाthe king

सhe

सैन्यानाम्of the troops

महात्मनाम्of the great-souled (ones)

व्यादिदेशordered / directed

सhe

वाह्यानाम्of the mounts/vehicles (those to be ridden/driven)

भक्ष्यभोज्यम्foods to be eaten and drunk (edibles and drinkables)

अनुत्तमम्unsurpassed, excellent

राजाthe king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Duryodhana

kings (mahātmanām nṛpāḥ implied)

armies (sainyāni)

mounts/vehicles (vāhya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a facet of rājadharma: a ruler must provide for guests, allies, and dependents. Yet in the Udyoga context, such generosity also functions as political statecraft—hospitality becomes a means to consolidate support and project power before war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Duryodhana arranges excellent food and provisions for the assembled noble kings who have arrived with their forces and mounts, indicating large-scale preparations and the mobilization of allies.