Shloka 36
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
शतशक्ष कुथांस्तत्र सिंहला: समुपाहरन् । सिंहलदेशके क्षत्रियोंने समुद्रका सारभूत वैदूर्य, मोतियोंके ढेर तथा हाथियोंके सैकड़ों झूल अर्पित किये ।।
śataśaḥ śaṅkhān tatra siṃhalāḥ samupāharan | siṃhaladeśakāḥ kṣatriyāḥ samudrasārabhūtaṃ vaidūryaṃ muktāpuñjāṃś ca hastināṃ ca śataśo jhūlān arpitavantaḥ || saṃvṛtā maṇicīraiḥ tu śyāmās tāmrāntalocanāḥ | upājahruḥ viśaś caiva śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣavas tathā ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Dari Siṃhala mereka membawa, beratus-ratus, kulit siput sangkha dan persembahan lain. Para Kṣatriya dari negeri Siṃhala mempersembahkan khazanah seolah-olah dipetik daripada sari lautan—permata vaidūrya, timbunan mutiara, serta ratusan kelengkapan hiasan gajah. Berselubung pakaian bertatah permata, bertubuh gelap dan dengan bucu mata kemerah-merahan, mereka ditahan di pintu gerbang sambil memegang hadiah-hadiah itu. Para Brahmana, Kṣatriya yang telah ditundukkan, Vaiśya, dan Śūdra yang ingin berkhidmat turut mempersembahkan hadiah dengan kegembiraan yang tampak pada zahirnya.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how political power expresses itself through tribute and ceremonial giving: wealth, exotic goods, and public deference become instruments of legitimacy. Ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between genuine respect and compliance produced by conquest or fear.
In the royal assembly context, Duryodhana describes delegations—especially from Siṃhala—arriving with lavish gifts such as gems, pearls, and elephant caparisons. Various social groups are depicted presenting offerings, while the Siṃhala men stand at the gate with their tribute under court protocol.