सर्वलोकः समावृत्तः पिप्रीषुः फलम् उत्तमम् ॥
द्रष्टुकामः सभां चैव धर्मराजं च पाण्डवम् ॥
न कश् चिद् आहरत् तत्र सहस्रावरम् अर्हणम् ॥
रत्नैश् च बहुभिस् तत्र धर्मराजम् अवर्धयन् ॥
कथं नु मम कौरव्यो रत्नदानैः समाप्नुयात् ॥
यज्ञम् इत्य् एव राजानः स्पर्धमाना ददुर् धनम् ॥
sarvalokaḥ samāvṛttaḥ piprīṣuḥ phalam uttamam ||
draṣṭukāmaḥ sabhāṃ caiva dharmarājaṃ ca pāṇḍavam ||
na kaś cid āharat tatra sahasrāvaram arhaṇam ||
ratnaiś ca bahubhis tatra dharmarājam avardhayan ||
kathaṃ nu mama kauravyo ratnadānaiḥ samāpnuyāt ||
yajñam ity eva rājānaḥ spardhamānā dadur dhanam ||
The whole world gathered, desiring to attain the highest fruit and to see both the hall and the Dharmaraja-Pandava. No one there brought an offering of less than a thousand, and with many jewels they honored the Dharmaraja. "How might the Kauravya, with my gifts of jewels, complete his sacrifice!" — thus, competing with one another, the kings gave their wealth.
28a0bf427e7f · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:40:27 PM UTC
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The kings compete — but in generosity: each longs for it to be his own gift that serves the sacrifice. It is telling that this is a good rivalry, a contest not of seizing but of giving. Where ordinary ambition drives men to take, here, before what is sacred, it is transmuted into eagerness to give more. The verse teaches that even the passion for being first can be sanctified when turned toward the good; rivalry in virtue builds up, while rivalry in acquisition tears down. A spirit of competition directed toward sacrifice enriches everyone — both the givers and the cause for which the gift is given.