Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

स स्त्रीगणावृतो राजा प्रदह्ृष्ट: प्रददौ वसु । तेभ्यो यथाहमन्नानि पानानि विविधानि च

Transliteration

sa strīgaṇāvṛto rājā prahṛṣṭaḥ pradadau vasu | tebhyo yathārham annāni pānāni vividhāni ca ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。女たちに取り囲まれたドゥルヨーダナ王は、彼らを見て大いに歓び、財宝を授け、礼にかなって種々の食と飲み物を供えさせた。この場面は、王権が饗応と贈与によって誇示されるさまを示す。外見は寛大であっても、そこには驕り、影響力、名声の政治が潜むのである。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्त्रीगणावृतः: surrounded by a group of women
• स्त्रीगणावृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत (√वृ/वृञ् ‘to cover, surround’ क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + स्त्रीगण
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रहृष्टः: delighted, very pleased
• प्रहृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्ट (√हृष् ‘to rejoice’ क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रददौ: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √दा (दाने)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथम, एकवचन

• वसु: wealth, treasure
• वसु: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, चतुर्थी, बहुवचन

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रि, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अन्नानि: foods
• अन्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पानानि: drinks
• पानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विविधानि: various, diverse
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duryodhana
• strīgaṇa (womenfolk)
• vasu (wealth)
• annāni (food)
• pānāni (drink)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ambiguity of royal generosity: giving and hospitality are dharmic when rooted in respect and right intention, yet the same acts can become instruments of vanity, social control, or political self-display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana, accompanied by his womenfolk, is pleased upon seeing certain visitors and responds by distributing wealth and offering them assorted foods and drinks in a manner deemed appropriate to their status.