Shloka 9
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
फलमूलाशना ये च किराताश्चर्मवासस: । क्रूरशस्त्रा: क्रूरकृतस्तांश्व पश्याम्यहं प्रभो
phalamūlāśanā ye ca kirātāś carmavāsasaḥ | krūraśastrāḥ krūrakṛtas tāṃś ca paśyāmy ahaṃ prabho pitāji ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Ayahanda, tuanku, aku juga melihat ketua-ketua Kirāta itu—berpakaian kulit, hidup dengan buah dan akar—yang ganas senjatanya dan keras perbuatannya; mereka pun hadir di sini.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the expansive pull of royal power: even remote, non-courtly groups are drawn into the king’s sphere. Ethically, it invites reflection on how political dominance can incorporate diverse peoples—sometimes respectfully, sometimes by coercive prestige—and how ‘civilized’ courts often label outsiders as ‘cruel’ while still benefiting from their submission or alliance.
Duryodhana is describing to his father the impressive range of attendees at the grand assembly: among them are Kirāta leaders, portrayed as skin-clad, fruit-and-root eaters, fierce in arms. Their presence signals the breadth of the gathering and the reach of the host’s influence.