अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो<5स्याक थयद्ू राजा दुर्योधनसमागमम् | तच्च शुश्रूषितं सर्व वरदानं च भारत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--भारत! तदनन्तर राजा शल्यने दुर्योधनके मिलने, सेवा- शुश्रूषा करने और उसे अपने वरदान देनेकी सारी बातें कह सुनायीं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato 'syākathayad rājā Duryodhana-samāgamam | tac ca śuśrūṣitaṃ sarvaṃ varadānaṃ ca Bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian Raja Śalya menceritakan kepadanya, wahai Bhārata, seluruh kisah itu—bagaimana baginda bertemu Duryodhana, bagaimana baginda berkhidmat serta melayaninya, dan bagaimana baginda mengurniakan kepadanya suatu anugerah (boon).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of service and promised boons: once hospitality is accepted and a favor is granted, it creates obligations that can influence later choices—even in a context as fraught as the lead-up to war.
Śalya reports the full story of his encounter with Duryodhana—how the meeting occurred, what service he rendered, and how he ended up granting Duryodhana a boon—setting up the consequences of that promise in the unfolding conflict.