Shloka 17
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
तेषां दुर्योधनो राजा ससैन्यानां महात्मनाम् | व्यादिदेश सवाह्यानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम्
teṣāṁ duryodhano rājā sasainyānāṁ mahātmanām | vyādideśa savāhyānāṁ bhakṣyabhojyam anuttamam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Si Haring Duryodhana, para sa mga mararangal na haring dumating na kasama ang kanilang mga hukbo at sasakyang pandigma, ay nag-utos na ipamahagi ang walang kapantay na pagkain at mga suplay. Sa tagpong ito, ang pagkamapagpatuloy ng hari ay ipinakikita sa napakalaking saklaw—isang panlabas na pagganap ng tungkuling panghari at pag-iingat sa pulitika—upang tiyakin ang katapatan at patibayin ang mga alyansa bago sumiklab ang digmaan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a facet of rājadharma: a ruler must provide for guests, allies, and dependents. Yet in the Udyoga context, such generosity also functions as political statecraft—hospitality becomes a means to consolidate support and project power before war.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Duryodhana arranges excellent food and provisions for the assembled noble kings who have arrived with their forces and mounts, indicating large-scale preparations and the mobilization of allies.