Shloka 123
Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy
राजसूये पुनर्वीर त्वमेवं वर्धयिष्यसि । तब महायशस्वी महाराज दुर्योधनने उससे इस प्रकार कहा--“वीर! तुम्हारा यह कथन सत्य है। नरश्रेष्ठ जब दुरात्मा पाण्डव मारे जायँगे, उस समय महायज्ञ राजसूयके समाप्त होनेपर तुम पुनः इसी प्रकार मेरा अभिनन्दन करोगे”
rājasūye punaḥ vīra tvam evaṁ vardhayiṣyasi |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O bayani, sa sakripisyong Rājasūya ay muli mo akong pupurihin sa ganito ring paraan.” Sa salaysay sa paligid nito, tumugon si Duryodhana nang may pagmamataas at masamang hangarin, pinagtitibay na totoo ang sinabi at iniisip ang hinaharap na mapapatay ang mga Pāṇḍava; sa pagtatapos ng dakilang Rājasūya, inaasahan niyang muli siyang pupurihin—na naglalantad ng kanyang pagkabulag sa dharma, inggit, at pagkahumaling sa tagumpay kaysa sa katuwiran.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how adharma manifests as pride and envy: Duryodhana’s confidence in the Pāṇḍavas’ destruction and his craving for acclaim show a mind turned away from righteous conduct, warning that obsession with victory and status corrodes ethical judgment.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a line about being praised again at the Rājasūya; in the accompanying context, Duryodhana replies that the statement is true and anticipates that after the great sacrifice ends—once the Pāṇḍavas are killed—he will receive renewed congratulations, foreshadowing hostility toward the Pāṇḍavas.