Shloka 8
Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration
यह शकुनि कहता है कि तुम्हारी कान्ति फीकी पड़ गयी है। तुम सफेद और दुबले हो गये हो; परंतु मैं बहुत सोचनेपर भी तुम्हारे शोकका कोई कारण नहीं देखता ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | śakuniḥ kathayati—tava kāntiḥ phīkā jātā; tvaṃ śvetaś ca kṛśaś ca jātaḥ; tathāpi bahu cintayann api tava śokasya kāraṇaṃ na paśyāmi || aiśvaryaṃ hi mahat putra tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | bhrātaraḥ suhṛdaś caiva nācaranti tavāpriyam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Wika ni Śakuni, “Kumupas ang iyong ningning; namutla ka at pumayat. Ngunit kahit pag-isipan ko nang matagal, wala akong makita na sanhi ng iyong pagdadalamhati. Sapagkat, anak ko, ang buong bigat ng dakilang paghahari ay nakasalalay sa iyo. Ang iyong mga kapatid at mga nagmamalasakit sa iyo ay hindi kailanman kumikilos laban sa iyong nais.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how political counsel can reframe a ruler’s emotions: Śakuni minimizes the legitimacy of sorrow by pointing to external success—power, support, and obedience—implying that grief is irrational when sovereignty is secure. Ethically, it foreshadows how attachment to status can be used to manipulate judgment.
In the Sabha Parva setting, Śakuni addresses the Kaurava prince (contextually Duryodhana), noticing his diminished radiance and asking why he grieves. He argues that Duryodhana holds great royal power and that his brothers and allies do not oppose him, thereby questioning the basis of his distress.