Shloka 17
Adhyaya 11 — Draupadī’s Grief, Demand for Justice, and Bhīma’s Departure
दृष्टवोपविष्टां राजर्षि: पाण्डवो महिषीं प्रियाम् । प्रत्युवाच स धर्मात्मा द्रौपदी चारुदर्शनाम्,अपनी प्रिय महारानी परम सुन्दरी द्रौपदीको उपवासके लिये बैठी देख धर्मात्मा राजर्षि युधिष्ठिरने उससे कहा--
dṛṣṭvopaviṣṭāṃ rājarṣiḥ pāṇḍavo mahiṣīṃ priyām | pratyuvāca sa dharmātmā draupadīṃ cārudarśanām ||
Seeing his beloved queen Draupadī—radiant in appearance—seated for a fast, the Pāṇḍava king, the royal sage Yudhiṣṭhira, a man devoted to dharma, addressed her in reply.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the wake of catastrophic violence, the text foregrounds dharmic self-restraint and religious observance: the righteous king recognizes and responds to his queen’s austerity, suggesting that moral order is sought through disciplined conduct rather than vengeance.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira sees Draupadī seated for an upavāsa (fast) and then speaks to her. The verse sets up a dialogue in which the king responds to her act of austerity.