Shloka 17
पुनर्द्यूत-समाह्वानम्
Renewed Summons to the Dice-Game and Exile Wager
श्रुत्वा सूतस्तद्वचो याज्ञसेन्या: सभां गत्वा प्राह वाक््यं तदानीम् | अधोमुखास्ते न च किंचिदूचु- निर्बिन्ध॑ त॑ धार्तराष्ट्रस्य बुद्ध्वा,द्रौपदीका यह कथन सुनकर सूत प्रातिकामीने पुनः सभामें जाकर द्रौपदीके प्रश्नको दुहराया; किंतु उस समय दुर्योधनके उस दुराग्रहको जानकर सभी नीचे मुँह किये बैठे रहे, कोई कुछ भी नहीं बोला
śrutvā sūtas tad-vaco yājñasenyāḥ sabhāṃ gatvā prāha vākyaṃ tadānīm | adho-mukhās te na ca kiñcid ūcuḥ nirbandhaṃ taṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya buddhvā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing the words of Yājñasenī (Draupadī), the messenger Prātikāmin returned to the royal assembly and repeated her question. But, recognizing the obstinate resolve of the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana), all sat with faces lowered; not one of them spoke a word.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When wrongdoing dominates a public institution, silence becomes a moral failure. The verse highlights how fear and deference to power (Duryodhana’s obstinacy) can paralyze even respected figures, turning the assembly’s quiet into complicity against dharma.
After Draupadī’s pointed question is conveyed, the messenger returns to the court and repeats it. The assembled Kuru elders and courtiers, realizing Duryodhana’s stubborn intent, sit with lowered faces and do not respond—signaling the court’s ethical collapse at a critical moment.