Shloka 12
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
निचितं पर्वतेभ्यश्व हिरण्यं भूरिवर्चसम् । बलिं च कृत्स्नमादाय द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति वारिता:
nicitaṁ parvatebhyaś ca hiraṇyaṁ bhūrivarcasam | baliṁ ca kṛtsnam ādāya dvāri tiṣṭhanti vāritāḥ ||
Duryodhana nói: “Và vàng rực rỡ, gom từ núi non, cùng toàn bộ cống phẩm—mang trọn những lễ vật ấy—họ đang đứng nơi cổng, bị ngăn lại, không được vào.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal wealth and tribute, though impressive, become ethically charged when access and honor are controlled by gatekeeping; it points to the tension between rightful reception of guests/tributaries and the politics of exclusion driven by pride or rivalry.
Duryodhana describes splendid mountain-gathered gold and complete tribute being brought, yet the bearers are stopped and made to stand at the gate, indicating a disruption in courtly reception and foreshadowing resentment and conflict within the royal setting.