Shloka 17

भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces

Bhīṣma–Droṇa council

Devanagari script

तेषां दुर्योधनो राजा ससैन्यानां महात्मनाम्‌ | व्यादिदेश सवाह्यानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

teṣāṁ duryodhano rājā sasainyānāṁ mahātmanām | vyādideśa savāhyānāṁ bhakṣyabhojyam anuttamam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：杜尤陀那王为那些携军队与坐骑而来的高魂诸王，下令分发无与伦比的饮食与给养。此处以宏阔场面展现王者待客之礼——既是君王职责的外在呈现，也是政治谨慎之举，意在战事将起之际笼络人心、巩固盟约。

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स: he
• स: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सैन्यानाम्: of the troops
• सैन्यानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled (ones)
• महात्मनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• व्यादिदेश: ordered / directed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दिश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• स: he
• स: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाह्यानाम्: of the mounts/vehicles (those to be ridden/driven)
• वाह्यानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: वाह्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भक्ष्यभोज्यम्: foods to be eaten and drunk (edibles and drinkables)
• भक्ष्यभोज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य-भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Duryodhana
• kings (mahātmanām nṛpāḥ implied)
• armies (sainyāni)
• mounts/vehicles (vāhya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a facet of rājadharma: a ruler must provide for guests, allies, and dependents. Yet in the Udyoga context, such generosity also functions as political statecraft—hospitality becomes a means to consolidate support and project power before war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Duryodhana arranges excellent food and provisions for the assembled noble kings who have arrived with their forces and mounts, indicating large-scale preparations and the mobilization of allies.