Shloka 18
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
सनागाश्चमनुष्याणां ये च शिल्पोपजीविन: । ये चान्येडनुगतास्तत्र सूतमागधबन्दिन:
sanāgāś ca manuṣyāṇāṁ ye ca śilpopajīvinaḥ | ye cānye 'nugatās tatra sūtamāgadhabandinaḥ ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：凡照料战象者、步兵、以工艺为生者，以及随行而至的诸般侍从——车御（苏多）、宫廷歌咏者（摩伽陀）与颂扬者——皆由杜尤陀那王供给饮食。此处显示王者施赐并不止于贵胄宾客，而是遍及整个随从体系，揭示王权如何以有序的款待与庇护，维系军旅与朝廷的运转。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a practical dimension of rājadharma: a king’s responsibility to sustain not only nobles but also the full ecosystem of an army and court—elephant corps, footmen, artisans, and professional bards—through orderly provision. Generosity here functions as social glue and political instrument, binding followers through support.
During the Udyoga Parva’s mobilization and alliance-building atmosphere, Duryodhana is depicted distributing food widely. The narration emphasizes that provisions reach every category of attendant—military and civilian—showing the scale of his arrangements and the breadth of those gathered around him.