Shloka 27
कर्णस्य मन्त्रः — Duryodhana-प्रति नीति-विचारः
Karna’s Counsel on Strategy toward the Pāṇḍavas
दुपद उवाच एकस्य बह्दयो विहिता महिष्य: कुरुनन्दन । नैकस्या बहव: पुंस: श्रूयन्ते पतय: क्वचित्,द्रुपद बोले--'कुरुनन्दन! एक राजा बहुत-सी रानियाँ (अथवा एक पुरुषकी अनेक स्त्रियाँ) हों, ऐसा विधान तो वेदोंमें देखा गया है; परंतु एक स्त्रीके अनेक पुरुष पति हों, ऐसा कहीं सुननेमें नहीं आया है-
drupada uvāca | ekasya bahvyo vihitā mahiṣyaḥ kurunandana | naikasyā bahavaḥ puṁsaḥ śrūyante patayaḥ kvacit ||
Drupada sprach: «O Wonne der Kurus, die Veden und die feststehenden Satzungen erlauben, dass ein Mann viele Königinnen habe. Doch dass eine Frau viele Männer zu Gatten habe — davon hört man nirgends.»
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Drupada appeals to śāstric precedent: polygyny for a man is presented as sanctioned in tradition, whereas polyandry for a woman is claimed to be without precedent; the verse frames dharma as grounded in what is ‘heard’ (śruti/smṛti-based social memory) and socially recognized norms.
In the discussion surrounding Draupadī’s marriage, Drupada voices an objection: he argues that while one man having multiple wives is accepted, one woman having multiple husbands is not traditionally attested, and he addresses a Kuru prince (Kurunandana, i.e., Arjuna) while making this point.