Shloka 72

भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः

Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt

Devanagari script

वैशग्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त: स तं॑ द्रोणो मोक्षयामास भारत । सत्कृत्य चैनं प्रीतात्मा राज्यार्ध प्रत्यपादयत्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--भारत! ट्रुपदके यों कहनेपर द्रोणाचार्यने उन्हें छोड़ दिया और प्रसन्नचित्त हो उनका आदर-सत्कार करके उन्हें आधा राज्य दे दिया

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktaḥ sa taṃ Droṇo mokṣayāmāsa Bhārata | satkṛtya cainaṃ prītātmā rājyārdhaṃ pratyapādayat ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Thus addressed, Droṇa released him, O Bhārata. Then, with a pleased heart, he honored him with due respect and restored to him half of the kingdom.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

सःhe

तम्him

द्रोणःDroṇa

मोक्षयामासreleased / set free

भारतO Bhārata

सत्कृत्यhaving honored / having received respectfully

चand

एनम्this one / him

प्रीतात्माwith pleased mind

राज्यkingdom

अर्धम्half

प्रत्यपादयत्bestowed / granted

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Drupada

Bhārata

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power is not the final measure of righteousness: after asserting dominance, one may still act with restraint and honor. The verse highlights ethical kingship and personal conduct—showing respect (satkāra) and choosing reconciliation by restoring what is due, rather than pursuing humiliation or needless violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Drupada speaks in a way that satisfies or persuades him, Droṇa releases Drupada from captivity. Droṇa then treats him respectfully and grants him half of the kingdom, turning a hostile encounter into a settlement marked by courtesy and a negotiated division of rule.