Duryodhana Describes the Tributes at the Pandava Sacrifice

Duryodhana said, “Listen to the main treasures I saw at the Pandava’s, brought by the lords of the earth from everywhere. On seeing those riches, grown and mined, I no longer feel myself to be conscious.” He began his inventory. From Kamboja came riches in the form of *eda* skins, fine cat skins lined with gold, the best skins from deer, three hundred horses with parrot-like noses that were grey and of mixed colours, and three hundred she-camels fattened with palm, pulses and nuts. All the *govasana* and *dasamiya* brahmanas came to please the immensely fortunate and great-souled Dharmaraja. They brought three *kharvas* of tribute, but were barred entry, and stood at the gate. Only when they brought beautiful and golden water pots and offered their tribute in those were they allowed in. The shudra kings who lived in Bharukaccha brought one hundred thousand slave girls from the Karpasika region. They were dark and slender, with long hair and adorned in golden ornaments. They also brought *ranku* hides, fit for the best of brahmanas, and horses from the Gandhara region. The men whose crops depend on the showers of Indra, those born near the mouths of rivers, along the shores and banks of oceans and rivers — the Vairamas, the Paradas, the Vangas and the Kitavas — brought many riches and many jewels: goats, cattle, gold, donkeys, camels, honey from fruit and different types of garments. But restrained, they stood at the door. Maharatha King Bhagadatta, the brave ruler of Pragjyotisha and the strong ruler of the *mlechhas* (foreigners), came with yavanas. He brought a tribute of thoroughbred horses, as swift as the wind, but was barred and stood at the gate. After presenting a receptacle that was like iron and swords with handles of ivory, Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha left. Duryodhana saw that many people from different directions were refused admission at the gate, though they brought rich tributes of gold and silver — those with two eyes, three eyes, one eye on the forehead, those who wore headdresses, those who had no fixed abode, Bahukas, cannibals and those with only one foot. They brought horses that were as swift as thought, with the colours of *indragopa* insects and parrots, or with the colours of the rainbow or red like the evening sky. They were of many shades and there were also seized forest horses, with the speed of the mind. They also gave rich tributes of the best quality of gold. There were Chinas, Hunas, Shakas, Oudras, those who live inside mountains, Varshneyas, Harahunas, dark ones and those who live in the Himalayas. Duryodhana did not remember the order of those who were barred entry at the gate. They gave much tribute in many forms. There were tens of thousands of asses, giant in form and with black necks. They were famous everywhere and trained well, capable of killing hundreds. There were large and colourful garments pleasant to the touch, from Bahlika and China. There was wool, *ranku* hides, silk, jute, cotton and thousands of other garments. They had the colour of lotuses and were soft, though not made of cotton. There were hides. There were long and sharp swords, double-edged swords, spears, battleaxes and a hundred battleaxes from the other side of the ocean. They brought juices, fragrances and many jewels in thousands. But despite the tribute, they were barred entry and stood at the gate. Shakas, Tukharas, Kankas, Romashas and men with horns brought as tribute one hundred million horses that could travel great and long distances. With crores of tribute of many kinds and unlimited gold, they stood at the door and were barred entry. Expensive seats, vehicles, beds, and many kinds of chariots adorned with gems and gold, made of ivory and decorated with gold, well-trained horses covered with tiger skins, many kinds of cushions, thousands of gems, *naracha* arrows, half-*narachas*, many kinds of weapons — this was the great tribute paid by the king from the east, when he entered the great-souled Pandava’s sacrificial arena.