Shloka 17
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
त॑ दृष्टवा मद्रराजश्न ज्ञात्वा यत्नं च तस्य तम् | परिष्वज्याब्रवीत् प्रीत इष्टोडर्थो गृहुतामिति
taṁ dṛṣṭvā madrarājaś ca jñātvā yatnaṁ ca tasya tam | pariṣvajyābravīt prīta iṣṭo 'rtho gṛhyatām iti ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang makita siya at malaman na siya ang nagpagawa ng lahat ng paghahandang iyon, ang hari ng Madra ay natuwa, niyakap si Duryodhana nang buong pagmamahal, at nagsabi: “Tatanggapin ang iyong ninanais; hingin mo sa akin ang anumang gusto mo.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how gifts, embraces, and courteous speech can create moral and social obligations; when used with political intent, such obligations may bind a person into choices that later affect dharma and the outcome of conflict.
Śalya, the king of Madra, realizes that the elaborate preparations were arranged by Duryodhana. Pleased, he embraces him and invites him to ask for any desired boon—setting the stage for a consequential commitment in the wider pre-war maneuvering.