Shloka 21
शतान्यनडुहां पज्च द्विजमुख्येषु भारत । न रन्तिदेवो नाभागो यौवनाश्वो मनुर्न च,वे मुझे तथा अन्य राजाओंको अचेत हुए देखकर उस समय जोर-जोरसे हँस रहे थे। भारत! तदनन्तर अर्जुनने प्रसन्न होकर पाँच सौ बैलोंको, जिनके सींगोंमें सोना मँढ़ा हुआ था, मुख्य-मुख्य ब्राह्मणोंमें बाँ- दिया। पिताजी! न रन्तिदेव, न नाभाग, न मान्धाता, न मनु, न वेननन्दन राजा पृथु, न भगीरथ, न ययाति और न नहुष ही वैसे ऐश्वर्यसम्पन्न सम्राट थे, जैसे कि आज राजा युधिष्छिर हैं
śatāny anaḍuhāṃ pañca dvijamukhyeṣu bhārata | na rantidevo nābhāgo yauvanāśvo manur na ca ||
ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ କହିଲା—ହେ ଭାରତ! ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପାଞ୍ଚଶେ ଷାଣ୍ଡ ବଣ୍ଟନ ହେଲା। ରନ୍ତିଦେବ, ନାଭାଗ, ଯୌବନାଶ୍ୱ, ମନୁ—କାହାର ପାଖରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆଜିର ରାଜା ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିରଙ୍କ ପରି ଏପରି ରାଜସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଥିଲା ନାହିଁ।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a public marker of righteous kingship—supporting brāhmaṇas and distributing wealth—while also revealing how such displays can provoke envy and competitive comparison, especially in Duryodhana’s gaze.
In the context of Yudhiṣṭhira’s grand royal ceremony and courtly display, lavish gifts are being distributed—here, five hundred bulls to leading brāhmaṇas. Duryodhana comments that even legendary kings did not possess prosperity like Yudhiṣṭhira’s, a remark colored by admiration mixed with jealousy.