Shloka 18
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
सनागाश्चमनुष्याणां ये च शिल्पोपजीविन: । ये चान्येडनुगतास्तत्र सूतमागधबन्दिन:,राजा दुर्योधन सवारियों और सैनिकोंसहित उन महामना नरेशोंको परम उत्तम भक्ष्य- भोज्य पदार्थ देता था। हाथियों, अश्वों, पैदल मनुष्यों, शिल्प-जीवियों, अन्य अनुगामियों तथा सूत, मागध और बंदीजनोंको भी राजाकी ओरसे भोजन प्राप्त होता था
sanāgāś ca manuṣyāṇāṁ ye ca śilpopajīvinaḥ | ye cānye 'nugatās tatra sūtamāgadhabandinaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: Os que cuidavam dos elefantes, os soldados de infantaria, os que viviam de ofícios e artes, bem como outros acompanhantes que ali seguiam — cocheiros (sūtas), bardos de corte (māgadhas) e panegiristas —, todos recebiam alimento do rei Duryodhana. A cena mostra que sua largueza ia além dos hóspedes de alta linhagem e alcançava toda a comitiva de apoio, revelando como o poder régio sustenta exército e corte por meio de hospitalidade e patronato organizados.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a practical dimension of rājadharma: a king’s responsibility to sustain not only nobles but also the full ecosystem of an army and court—elephant corps, footmen, artisans, and professional bards—through orderly provision. Generosity here functions as social glue and political instrument, binding followers through support.
During the Udyoga Parva’s mobilization and alliance-building atmosphere, Duryodhana is depicted distributing food widely. The narration emphasizes that provisions reach every category of attendant—military and civilian—showing the scale of his arrangements and the breadth of those gathered around him.