Shloka 11
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
ततः संश्राव्यमाणेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत | अत्यक्रामद् धार्तराष्ट्रं सा कन्या वरवर्णिनी,भरतनन्दन! तत्पश्चात् जब उसे राजाओंके नाम सुना-सुनाकर उनका परिचय दिया जाने लगा, उस समय वह सुन्दरी राजकुमारी धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधनके सामनेसे होकर आगे बढ़ने लगी
tataḥ saṁśrāvyamāṇeṣu rājñāṁ nāmasu bhārata | atyakrāmad dhārtarāṣṭraṁ sā kanyā varavarṇinī bharatanandana ||
Nārada berkata: “Kemudian, wahai Bhārata, ketika nama para raja diumumkan dengan lantang dan diperkenalkan seorang demi seorang, gadis yang elok rupawan itu melangkah lalu, melewati putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana), wahai kebanggaan keturunan Bharata.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights personal agency and social signaling in a royal selection context: as candidates are publicly identified, the maiden’s movement past Duryodhana implies a deliberate preference or rejection. Ethically, it underscores that status alone does not guarantee acceptance; choice must align with discernment and propriety.
During a formal presentation where kings’ names are being proclaimed, a beautiful princess proceeds forward and passes beyond the Dhārtarāṣṭra prince—understood as Duryodhana—suggesting she does not stop for him and continues toward others.