Shloka 4
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
अभिमानवती नित्यं विशेषेण युधिष्ठिरे । लालिता सतत राज्ञा धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
abhimānavatī nityaṁ viśeṣeṇa yudhiṣṭhire |
lālitā satataṁ rājñā dharmajñā dharmadarśinī ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Ever proud—especially in relation to Yudhiṣṭhira—she was continually cherished by the king; she was one who knew dharma and one who perceived dharma clearly.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal: true closeness to a righteous king is marked not merely by affection or status, but by dharma-jñāna (knowing dharma) and dharma-darśana (clear moral discernment).
The narrator describes a principal woman (contextually, Draupadī) as proud in relation to Yudhiṣṭhira, beloved by him, and distinguished by her understanding and perception of dharma—setting the stage for her forthcoming speech or counsel.