Shloka 25
अक्षविजय-प्रसङ्गः
Escalation of Wagers and Shakuni’s Repeated Declarations of Victory
ये चान्ये तत्र राजान: पूर्वमेव समागता: । दुःशासनेन वीरेण सर्वैर्ग्रतृभिरेव च
ye cānye tatra rājānaḥ pūrvam eva samāgatāḥ | duḥśāsanena vīreṇa sarvair bhrātṛbhir eva ca ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “At yaong ibang mga hari na nauna nang nagtipon doon—kasama ang magiting na Duḥśāsana at ang lahat ng kaniyang mga kapatid—ay naroon din.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outcomes in a royal court can be shaped by prior consolidation of allies and the visible unity of powerful factions. Ethically, it warns that when assemblies are dominated by force and partisanship, justice and dharma become vulnerable.
Vaiśampāyana describes the scene in the assembly: other kings had already arrived, and Duḥśāsana is present along with all his brothers. The court is thus populated by Kaurava power and allied rulers, foreshadowing an atmosphere unfavorable to impartial judgment.