Shloka 22
जयद्रथ-निग्रहः — Jayadratha Restrained, Shamed, and Released
(तस्मादेष महाबाहो तव यज्ञ: प्रवर्तताम् ।) एवमुक्तस्तु तैरविंप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्री महीपति: । कर्ण च सौबल चैव क्रातृश्वैवेदमब्रवीत्
tasmād eṣa mahābāho tava yajñaḥ pravartatām | evam uktas tu tair viprair dhārtarāṣṭrī mahīpatiḥ | karṇaṃ ca saubalaṃ caiva bhrātṝṃś caivेदam abravīt ||
«Darum, o Starkarmiger, soll dein Opfer in Gang gesetzt werden.» So von jenen Brāhmaṇas angesprochen, sprach der dhārtarāṣṭrische König (Duryodhana) zu Karṇa, zu Saubala (Śakuni) und zu seinen Brüdern wie folgt—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual (yajña) and priestly endorsement can be invoked to authorize a ruler’s course of action. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether outwardly dharmic forms—like sacrifices—are being used to serve genuine righteousness or merely to strengthen political ambition.
Brahmins urge the ‘mighty-armed’ ruler to commence his sacrifice. After hearing them, Duryodhana turns to his key allies—Karṇa, Śakuni, and his brothers—and begins to state his plan or instructions, indicating a consequential decision is about to be made.