Shloka 21
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
वह जो शत्रुओंकी पराक्रम-सम्पन्न एवं श्रेष्ठ सेना हाथी, घोड़े और रथ तीनों अंगोंसे सम्पन्न थी तथा द्रोण, कर्ण, अश्वत्थामा और कृपाचार्य जिसकी रक्षा करते थे, उसका आपने वध किया है, तब यह पृथ्वी आपके अधिकारमें आयी है। अतः वीर! आप इसका उपभोग करें ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yā śatrūṇāṁ parākrama-sampannā śreṣṭhā ca senā hastibhir aśvair rathaiś ca trividha-aṅga-sampannā āsīt, yāṁ droṇaḥ karṇaḥ aśvatthāmā kṛpaś ca rakṣanti sma, tasyāḥ tvayā vadhaḥ kṛtaḥ; tataḥ pṛthivī tava vaśam āgatā | ataḥ vīra, tvam asyā upabhogaṁ kuru || jambūdvīpo mahārāja nānā-janapadair yutaḥ | tvayā puruṣaśārdūla daṇḍena mṛditaḥ prabho ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “You have slain that foremost and valorous host of your enemies—complete in the three arms of war, elephants, horses, and chariots—guarded by Droṇa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāmā, and Kṛpa. Therefore the earth has come under your authority. Hence, O hero, enjoy it and govern it. O lord, O great king, tiger among men: this Jambūdvīpa, filled with many realms and peoples, has been subdued by your daṇḍa, the rod of royal rule.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Military victory is presented as leading to legitimate sovereignty, but the emphasis shifts to the ethical duty of kingship: the conqueror must now 'enjoy' the earth in the sense of ruling and protecting it through daṇḍa—disciplined authority used for order, justice, and welfare, not mere indulgence.
Vaiśampāyana describes how the hero has defeated an elite enemy force—complete in elephants, cavalry, and chariots and defended by famed commanders (Droṇa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa). With that opposition removed, the realm (the earth/Jambūdvīpa with its many regions) is said to be subdued and now under the victor’s control, urging him to take up governance.