Shloka 2

Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

महाभिजनसम्पन्ना श्रीमत्यायतलोचना । अभ्यभाषत राजेन्द्र द्रौपदी योषितां वरा

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | mahābhijanasampannā śrīmaty āyatalocanā | abhyabhāṣata rājendra draupadī yoṣitāṃ varā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O best of kings, then Draupadī—born in a great lineage, radiant, and wide-eyed, the foremost among women—addressed (him).

Word by Word

• महाभिजनसम्पन्ना: endowed with great lineage
• महाभिजनसम्पन्ना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभिजन-सम्पन्न
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीमती: illustrious, noble lady
• श्रीमती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमती
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• आयतलोचना: having long/large eyes
• आयतलोचना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत-लोचना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke to, addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भाष्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• द्रौपदी: Draupadi
• द्रौपदी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• योषिताम्: of women
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वरा: the best, excellent
• वरा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Draupadī
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical moment: when the righteous king is silent and burdened after hearing doctrinal discussions, a wise and devoted queen steps in to counsel him. It highlights dharmic responsibility—speech used to console, clarify duty, and restore steadiness in leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Draupadī, described with honorific epithets (noble-born, radiant, wide-eyed), begins to address the king (Yudhiṣṭhira). Her forthcoming words are positioned as a soothing, morally oriented intervention within the Śānti Parva’s post-war instruction.