Shloka 18
दुर्योधनस्य बलिवर्णनम् — Duryodhana’s Description of Tribute at the Rājasūya
महिमान परं चापि पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् | दुर्योधनो धार्तराष्ट्रो विवर्ण: समपद्यत
vaiśampāyana uvāca | mahimānaṁ paraṁ cāpi pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām | duryodhano dhārtarāṣṭro vivarṇaḥ samapadyata, kuruśreṣṭha |
毗舍摩波耶那说：噢，俱卢族中最卓越者！当他看见大心的般度族那至高的伟业——他们心怀欢悦，地上诸王尽入其影响之下，举世之人自孩童至老者皆愿他们得福——持国之子都利约陀那便面色失色。此偈昭示：他人之兴盛，若以嫉妒而非明辨相迎，便会成为内在崩塌与未来罪行的种子。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how envy (īrṣyā) distorts perception: the Pāṇḍavas’ legitimate prosperity and universal goodwill should inspire respect or self-improvement, but in Duryodhana it produces inner agitation and loss of balance—an ethical warning about responding to others’ success.
After witnessing the Pāṇḍavas’ rising eminence—public joy, widespread support, and the submission or alignment of many kings—Duryodhana reacts with visible distress, becoming pale. This reaction foreshadows his later hostility and schemes against them.