अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो<5स्याक थयद्ू राजा दुर्योधनसमागमम् | तच्च शुश्रूषितं सर्व वरदानं च भारत
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato 'syākathayad rājā Duryodhana-samāgamam | tac ca śuśrūṣitaṃ sarvaṃ varadānaṃ ca Bhārata ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraan nito, isinalaysay ni Haring Śalya sa kanya, O Bhārata, ang buong pangyayari—kung paano niya nakatagpo si Duryodhana, kung paano niya ito pinaglingkuran at inalagaan, at kung paano niya ito pinagkalooban ng isang biyaya (boon).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of service and promised boons: once hospitality is accepted and a favor is granted, it creates obligations that can influence later choices—even in a context as fraught as the lead-up to war.
Śalya reports the full story of his encounter with Duryodhana—how the meeting occurred, what service he rendered, and how he ended up granting Duryodhana a boon—setting up the consequences of that promise in the unfolding conflict.