Shloka 29
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
यज्ञसेनेन दासीनां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश । दासानामयुतं चैव सदाराणां विशाम्पते । गजयुक्ता महाराज रथा: षड्विंशतिस्तथा
yajñasenena dāsīnāṁ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa | dāsānām ayutaṁ caiva sadārāṇāṁ viśāmpate | gajayuktā mahārāja rathāḥ ṣaḍviṁśatis tathā ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai tuan rakyat, oleh Yajñasena telah diberikan empat belas ribu dayang, dan juga sepuluh ribu hamba lelaki—bersama isteri-isteri mereka. Dan, wahai raja agung, ada pula dua puluh enam kereta perang yang dipasang dengan gajah.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse implicitly critiques a value-system where political worth is measured by quantities of wealth, servants, and military assets. In the Sabha narrative, such accounting underscores attachment, rivalry, and pride—traits that erode dharma when prestige becomes the primary aim.
Duryodhana is reporting or boasting about the scale of resources and gifts associated with Yajñasena (Drupada): thousands of maidservants, ten thousand male servants with their wives, and a specified number of elephant-equipped chariots. The speech functions as a tally of material and martial strength within the royal court setting.