Shloka 4
Adhyāya 48 — Duryodhana’s Account of Tribute and the Provisioned Court (सभा पर्व, अध्याय ४८)
तैर्लब्धा द्रौपदी भार्या द्रुपदश्न सुतैः सह | सहाय: पृथिवीलाभे वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान्,उन पाँचोंने पत्नीरूपमें द्रौपदीको तथा पुत्रों-लहित राजा द्रुपद एवं सम्पूर्ण पृथ्वीकी प्राप्तिमें कारण महापराक्रमी वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्णको सहायकरूपमें प्राप्त किया है
tair labdhā draupadī bhāryā drupadaś ca sutaiḥ saha | sahāyaḥ pṛthivīlābhe vāsudevaś ca vīryavān |
Duryodhana berkata: “Mereka telah memperoleh Draupadī sebagai isteri; dan Raja Drupada juga, bersama putera-putera baginda, telah mereka jadikan sekutu. Dan demi mencapai kedaulatan atas bumi, Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) yang perkasa pun telah mereka peroleh sebagai penyokong.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political legitimacy and power in the Mahābhārata are strengthened through alliances—marriage ties (Draupadī), kin-based support (Drupada and his sons), and the backing of a formidable protector (Vāsudeva/Kṛṣṇa). It implicitly warns that success in statecraft depends not only on personal valor but also on ethical and strategic networks of support.
Duryodhana is assessing the growing strength of the Pāṇḍavas. He notes that they have secured Draupadī as wife, gained Drupada and his sons as allies, and also obtained the powerful support of Kṛṣṇa—factors that make their claim to sovereignty and future success more formidable.