Shloka 51
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
समाप्तविद्य॑ तु गुरो: सुतं नृपः समाप्तकर्माणमुपेत्य ते सुतः । सुहृदवृतो त्यर्थमपूजयन्मुदा जिते बलौ विष्णुमिवामरेश्वर:
samāptavidyāṁ tu guroḥ sutaṁ nṛpaḥ samāptakarmāṇam upetya te sutaḥ | suhṛdāvṛto ’rtham apūjayan mudā jite balau viṣṇum ivāmareśvaraḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: Quando o filho do mestre concluiu seus estudos e cumpriu todos os deveres que dele se esperavam, teu filho Duryodhana aproximou-se dele acompanhado de amigos e, com alegria, honrou-o com dádivas e reverência. Foi como Indra, senhor dos deuses, venerando Viṣṇu após Bali ter sido subjugado — uma devoção estratégica oferecida para assegurar força e vantagem.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how honoring a powerful ally—especially one who has fulfilled his training and duties—can be both respectful and strategic. It also suggests an ethical tension: acts resembling devotion (pūjā) may be motivated by political advantage (artha), reminding readers to examine intention behind reverence.
After Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son) has completed his learning and obligations, Duryodhana approaches him with companions and honors him with gifts and respect, seeking to secure his support. The comparison to Indra worshipping Viṣṇu after Bali’s defeat underscores the political-religious symbolism of seeking strength through reverence.