Shloka 6
द्रुपदवाक्यं
Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization
मृदु वै मन्यते पापो भाषमाणमशक्तिकम् । जितमर्थ विजानीयादबुधो मार्दवे सति,पापी एवं मूर्ख मनुष्य मृदु वचन बोलनेवालेको शक्तिहीन समझता है और कोमलताका बर्ताव करनेपर यह मानने लगता है कि मैंने इसके धनपर विजय पा ली
mṛdu vai manyate pāpo bhāṣamāṇam aśaktikam | jitam arthaṃ vijānīyād abudho mārdave sati ||
قال دروبادا: «إنّ الشرير يظنّ مَن يتكلّم بلينٍ عاجزًا. فإذا أُبدي له اللطف توهّم الأحمق: “لقد نلتُ الغَلَبة؛ لقد قهرتُ مصالحه (أو ماله)”.»
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Gentle speech and mild conduct are virtues, but unethical and foolish people may misinterpret them as weakness and presume they can seize advantage; therefore discernment is needed in dealing with the wicked.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Drupada reflects on political and moral psychology: how certain adversaries respond to conciliatory or gentle approaches, mistaking restraint for incapacity and claiming victory over one’s interests.