Shloka 31
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
विदीर्येत् सकला भूमिद्यौश्वापि शकलीभवेत् | रविरात्मप्रभां जह्मात् सोम: शीतांशुतां त्यजेत्
vidīryet sakalā bhūmir dyauś cāpi śakalībhavet | ravir ātmaprabhāṃ jahyāt somaḥ śītāṃśutāṃ tyajet |
قال فايشَمبايانا: «ولو انشقّت الأرض كلّها، ولو تكسّرت السماء شذرًا؛ ولو تركت الشمس ضياءها، وتخلّى القمر عن برد أشعّته—مع ذلك (كما يُروى هذا القسم) فلن يقبل أن يحكم هذه الأرض من دونك. “أيها الملك، ارضَ—ارضَ!”» وكان دُحشاسَنا يكرّر هذه المناشدة الأخيرة مرارًا.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage illustrates how intense loyalty and political persuasion can be framed through cosmic hyperbole—invoking the collapse of natural order to emphasize an unyielding stance. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether steadfastness is aligned with dharma or merely stubborn attachment serving questionable ends.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates a dramatic appeal in which a speaker (as reported) declares that even if cosmic laws fail—earth splitting, sky fragmenting, sun and moon losing their qualities—he will not rule without the addressed king. Duḥśāsana repeatedly urges, “O King, be pleased,” reinforcing the plea through repetition.