Shloka 4

Dyūta-āhvāna: Śakuni’s Proposal, Vidura’s Warning, and the Summons of Yudhiṣṭhira

Sabhā-parva 51

Devanagari script

अश्वांस्तित्तिरिकल्माषांस्त्रिशतं शुकनासिकान्‌ | उष्ट्रवामीस्त्रिशतं च पुष्टा: पीलुशमीज्रुदै:

Transliteration

aśvāṁs tittiri-kalmāṣāṁs triśataṁ śuka-nāsikān | uṣṭra-vāmīs triśataṁ ca puṣṭāḥ pīlu-śamīṅgudaiḥ ||

Translation

ਦੁਰਯੋਧਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਉਹ ਤਿੱਤਰ ਵਾਂਗ ਚਿੱਟੇ-ਚਿੱਟੇ ਧੱਬਿਆਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਤੋਤੇ ਵਰਗੀ ਨੱਕ ਵਾਲੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਸੌ ਘੋੜੇ ਭੇਟ ਕਰ ਗਏ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਪੀਲੂ, ਸ਼ਮੀ ਅਤੇ ਇੰਗੁਦ ਚਰ ਕੇ ਮੋਟੀਆਂ-ਤਾਜ਼ੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਤਿੰਨ ਸੌ ਊਠਣੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਖੱਚਰੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ।

Word by Word

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तित्तिरि-कल्माषान्: speckled like a partridge
• तित्तिरि-कल्माषान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तित्तिरि-कल्माष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिशतम्: three hundred
• त्रिशतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शुक-नासिकान्: having parrot-like noses/beaks
• शुक-नासिकान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक-नासिक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उष्ट्रवामीः: female camels (camel-mares)
• उष्ट्रवामीः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ट्रवामी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिशतम्: three hundred
• त्रिशतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुष्टाः: well-fed, fattened
• पुष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्ट
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• पीलु-शमी-इंगुदैः: with/through (feeding on) pīlu, śamī and iṅguda (plants)
• पीलु-शमी-इंगुदैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीलु-शमी-इंगुद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• horses
• she-camels
• mules
• partridge (tittiri)
• parrot (śuka)
• pīlu
• śamī
• iṅguda

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how royal power is often showcased through extravagant tribute. Ethically, it hints that fixation on wealth and display can feed pride and rivalry—conditions that erode dharma when status is valued over self-restraint and justice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana is describing the impressive gifts/tribute received: large numbers of distinctive horses and well-fed she-camels and mules, emphasizing abundance and the courtly spectacle of wealth in the assembly setting.