Shloka 18
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
तत आसादयामास पुरोधा द्रुपदं पुरे तस्मै पाउचालको राजा गामर्घ्य च सुसत्कृतम्
tata āsādayāmāsa purodhā drupadaṃ pure | tasmai pāñcālako rājā gām arghyaṃ ca susatkṛtam ||
তাৰ পাছত ৰাজপুৰোহিত নগৰলৈ আহি মহাৰাজ দ্ৰুপদক সাক্ষাৎ কৰিলে। পাঞ্চালৰাজে যথোচিত সন্মান কৰি তেওঁক অৰ্ঘ্য আৰু এটা গাই অৰ্পণ কৰিলে। তেওঁৰ সৈতে ৰাজকুমাৰ শিখণ্ডীও তাত উপস্থিত আছিল। ৰাজেন্দ্ৰ! পুৰোহিতে সেই পূজা-সন্মান গ্ৰহণ নকৰিলে আৰু এইদৰে ক’লে—
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that formal honor (arghya, gifts) is not automatically to be accepted; ethical and political context matters. In the war-prelude setting, the priest’s refusal implies that dharma can require restraint from benefiting personally or ritually when the larger situation involves contested loyalties and impending conflict.
A royal priest arrives in Drupada’s city and is welcomed with arghya and a cow by the Panchala king. Shikhandi is present. The priest refuses to accept the offered honors and begins to speak, setting up a consequential diplomatic or moral statement.