Shloka 7
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरोक्तिः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra Addressed on Sincerity, Hospitality, and Settlement
नित्यप्रभिन्नान् मातज्रानीषादन्तान् प्रहारिण: । अष्टानुचरमेकैकमष्टौ दास्यामि कौरव
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | nityaprabhinnān mātaṅgān īṣādantān prahāriṇaḥ | aṣṭānucaramekaikam aṣṭau dāsyāmi kaurava kurunandana ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Wahai Kaurava, kebanggaan kaum Kuru! Selain itu, aku juga akan mengurniakan lapan ekor gajah yang sedang mabuk berahi, dengan pelipis sentiasa mengalirkan cairan rut, bertaring seperti tiang kereta, dan mahir menghentam musuh. Dan bagi setiap seekor daripada lapan gajah raja itu, akan aku sediakan lapan orang pengiring.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal power is expressed through material gifts and military assets; ethically, it invites reflection on whether peace and justice can be secured by offerings of wealth and force, or whether deeper commitment to dharma is required.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra promises additional gifts—eight powerful rutting elephants, each supported by eight attendants—to the addressed Kaurava prince, emphasizing the scale of resources he is willing to provide in the ongoing political negotiation.