Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

रक्षितं द्रोणकर्णाभ्याम श्वत्थाम्ना कृपेण च | तत्‌ त्वया निहत॑ वीर तस्माद्‌ भुड्क्ष्य वसुन्धराम्‌

Transliteration

rakṣitaṃ droṇa-karṇābhyāṃ śvatthāmnā kṛpeṇa ca | tat tvayā nihataṃ vīra tasmād bhuṅkṣva vasundharām ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “This realm was guarded by Droṇa and Karṇa, and also by Aśvatthāman and Kṛpa. Yet you, O hero, have slain them. Therefore, enjoy the earth—the kingdom—and bear its rule in righteousness.”

Word by Word

• रक्षितम्: protected/guarded
• रक्षितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) → रक्षित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• द्रोणकर्णाभ्याम्: by Drona and Karna
• द्रोणकर्णाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण + कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• अश्वत्थाम्ना: by Ashvatthaman
• अश्वत्थाम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कृपेण: by Kripa
• कृपेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तत्: that (one/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• निहतम्: slain/killed
• निहतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + नि → निहत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• वीर: O hero
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• भुङ्क्ष्ये: I shall enjoy/possess
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वसुन्धराम्: the earth
• वसुन्धराम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Droṇa
• Karṇa
• Aśvatthāman
• Kṛpa
• Vasundharā (the earth/kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power and territory are not portrayed as mere spoils; they come with dharmic accountability. Having overcome renowned guardians, the victor is urged to ‘enjoy/rule the earth’—implying the obligation to govern justly and uphold order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana recounts that the land had been defended by celebrated warriors—Droṇa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāman, and Kṛpa—yet the addressed hero has defeated them. On that basis, he is told to take up and rule the kingdom.