Duryodhana Humiliated

The seventy fifth chapter describes the details of the sacrifice. After the sacrifice Yudhisthira took avabhrtha bath with Draupadi. Duryodhana, being the object of joking, became offended and angry.

Having heard from you that everyone except Duryodhana was pleased, please tell me the reason.

Sukadeva already mentioned that Duryodhana was envious (yo na sehe sriyam sphitam 10.74.53). That is one reason he was not pleased. Sukadeva wanted to describe another reason as it arose in his mind which he had not previously described. He describes the supplementary part of the sacrifice now, looking backwards so to speak, since he already described the completion of the sacrifice and departure of the guests.

Friends bound by ropes of affection to the king engaged in services at the sacrifice, by their own free will. According to their liking they did activities, not under instruction by Yudhisthira.

Krsna engaged himself in washing feet because those who had pride could not do so.

The kings went out with four parts of the army: elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers, in front of which were colorful banners on poles.

The wives (nr devya) of Yudhisthira such as Draupadi (and Yaudheyi???who is she?), in order to get pleasure went out of the city on chariots, just as the wives of the devatas enjoy riding in airplanes. Nephew (matuleya) here refers to the cousins on the husband’s side (though commonly it refers to those on the wife’s side) : that is, the sons of Vasudeva, brother of Kunti. The wives joked and played with their husbands (devaran uta sakhin), as well be seen in the next verse. It would be improper for them to joke with their cousins such as Krsna, the most famous of the cousins. Therefore the wives joked with the friends of their cousins, meaning Bhima, Arjuna etc, who were their husbands.

They sprinkled water on their husbands using leather bags filled with water (drtibhih).

These actions generated lusty thoughts in person like Duryodhana, but not in pure persons.

This verse describes events after they had finished their water sports. Otherwise it can refer to events before the water sports.

Just as the king of sacrifices the rajasuya, the main element, looks resplendent with its component activities, so Yudhisthira looked resplendent with his queens.

The priests performed the patni samyaja sacrifice, and activities related to the avabhrtya bath with Yudhisthira and his wives.

The priests of high family (mahasilah) and others were worshiped by Yudhisthira.

This verse begins to describe how Duryodhana’s pride was broken. Seeing the splendor of the inner chambers and the greatness of the sacrifice of Yudhisthira, who was completely attached to Krsna (acyutatmanah), Duryodhana became pained

In the chambers were various types of treasures from the kings of humans, demons and devas. It was built by Maya. Draupadi enjoyed those opulences with her husbands in that place. Overcome with envy by those opulences, Durydhona’s heart was pained.

That place was resplendent with thousands of Krsna’s queens with beautiful faces, earrings and locks of hair.

He was surrounded by friends, attendants and also Krsna who acted as his eyes (svacaksusa krsnena), pointing out what was beneficial and not beneficial.

Duryodhana, abusing the guards (ksipa), entered the hall.

Thinking that solid ground was water he gathered up his lower cloth so it would not get wet. Thinking that water was solid ground he fell into the water. He was bewildered by Mayadava’s sakti, which revealed who was hostile in the assembly hall.

The women also laughed. Yudhisthira by his glance, told everyone not to laugh. However Krsna by a movement of his eyebrow permitted it. So what could be done? By this he sowed the seed of dissension, desiring to rid the earth of its burden.

Of course just by his glance he can bewilder Duryodhana, but he used Mayadanava’s maya as a tool for this.