Shloka 20
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
ईषादन्तान् हेमकक्षान् पद्मवर्णान् कुथावृतान् । शैलाभान् नित्यमत्तांक्षाप्पभित: काम्यकं सर:
īṣādantān hemakakṣān padmavarṇān kuthāvṛtān | śailābhān nityamattāṁś ca āpabhitaḥ kāmyakaṁ saraḥ ||
Duryodhana berkata: “(Mereka mempersembahkan) gajah bergading panjang seperti batang bajak, ditambat dengan tali emas, berwarna laksana teratai (pucat berseri), dan diselubungi kain halus. Mereka tampak seperti gunung dan seolah-olah sentiasa dalam musth. (Hadiah-hadiah itu dibawa) dekat tasik Kāmyaka, ketika para raja—penyabar dan berdarah mulia—masuk melalui pintu seorang demi seorang, masing-masing mempersembahkan seribu ekor gajah.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political power is projected through lavish gifts and spectacle. Ethically, it invites reflection on how pride and rivalry can be fueled by displays of wealth, and how external grandeur may mask inner insecurity or ambition.
Duryodhana describes (or points to) the grand procession of kings entering the gate, each presenting enormous tributes—especially thousands of richly caparisoned elephants—near the Kāmyaka lake, emphasizing the scale and splendor of the offerings.