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Shloka 2

Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration

प्रियकृन्मतमाज्ञाय पूर्व दुर्योधनस्य तत्‌ । प्रज्ञाचक्षुपमासीनं शकुनि: सौबलस्तदा,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! गान्धारीपुत्र दुर्योधनके सहित सुबलनन्दन शकुनि राजा युधिष्ठटिरके राजसूय महायज्ञका उत्सव देखकर जब लौटा, तब पहले दुर्योधनके अपने अनुकूल मतको जानकर और उसकी पूरी बातें सुनकर सिंहासनपर बैठे हुए प्रज्ञाचक्षु महाप्राज्ञ राजा धृतराष्ट्रके पास जाकर इस प्रकार बोला

priyakṛnmatam ājñāya pūrvaṁ duryodhanasya tat | prajñācakṣum āsīnaṁ śakuniḥ saubalastadā ||

毗湿摩耶那说:沙昆尼——苏跋罗之子——先探明难敌那合他心意的打算,随后走近持国王(Dhṛtarāṣṭra)这位智者;他虽目盲,却端坐如具慧眼。此偈点明将至之言乃精于算计、偏袒一方:沙昆尼在启口之前先与难敌的欲求同调,从而推动一番更重权宜、轻于达摩的劝说。

प्रियकृत्the well-wisher / one who does what is pleasing
प्रियकृत्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रियकृत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मतम्opinion, intention
मतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आज्ञायhaving learned/known
आज्ञाय:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormAbsolutive (ktvā/lyap), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), having known
पूर्वम्first, beforehand
पूर्वम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व
दुर्योधनस्यof Duryodhana
दुर्योधनस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्योधन
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
तत्that (matter/thing)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
प्रज्ञाचक्षुम्him who has wisdom as his eyes (the blind Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
प्रज्ञाचक्षुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रज्ञाचक्षुस्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आसीनम्seated
आसीनम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआस्
FormPast passive participle (kta), Masculine, Accusative, Singular
शकुनिःŚakuni
शकुनिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशकुनि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सौबलःson of Subala / Saubala
सौबलः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसौबल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
D
Duryodhana
Ś
Śakuni
S
Subala
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how counsel can be ethically compromised when it begins by aligning with what is merely ‘pleasing’ (priyakṛt) rather than what is right. It implicitly warns that advice given to power, when driven by partisanship and desire, can become a vehicle for adharma.

Śakuni, after first understanding and adopting Duryodhana’s preferred intention, goes to the blind king Dhṛtarāṣṭra (called prajñācakṣuḥ, ‘wise-eyed’) who is seated in court, preparing to speak in a way that supports Duryodhana’s agenda.