Shloka 17
Droṇa–Drupada Saṃvāda and Droṇa’s Reception at the Kuru Court (द्रोण-द्रुपद-संवादः; कुरुनगरप्रवेशः)
पाण्डुरुवाच (धन्यो>स्म्यनुगृहीतो$स्मि त्वं नो धात्री कुलस्य हि । नमो महर्षये तस्मै येन दत्तो वरस्तव ।।
pāṇḍur uvāca: dhanyo ’smy anugṛhīto ’smi tvaṃ no dhātrī kulasya hi | namo maharṣaye tasmai yena datto varas tava || na cādharmena dharmajñe śakyāḥ pālayituṃ prajāḥ || adyaiva tvaṃ varārohe prayatasva yathāvidhi | dharmam āvāhaya śubhe sa hi lokeṣu puṇyabhāk ||
Pāṇḍu said: “I am blessed; I have been shown great favor by you. Indeed, you are the sustainer of our lineage. Salutations to that great seer by whom such a boon was granted to you. And, O knower of dharma, subjects cannot be protected through adharma. Therefore, O fair-hipped one, strive this very day according to the proper rite. O auspicious lady, first invoke Dharma, for he is righteous and a bearer of merit among the worlds.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Pāṇḍu asserts that governance and the protection of people cannot be grounded in adharma; even urgent dynastic needs must be pursued through a dharmic, properly sanctioned method—hence the insistence on invoking Dharma first and acting yathāvidhi (according to rite).
Pāṇḍu addresses his wife (Kuntī in context), praising her and the sage who granted her a boon/mantra, then urges her to act immediately and ritually to secure offspring for the continuation of the Kuru line—beginning by invoking the deity Dharma.