Shloka 12
भीष्मद्रोणयोर्दुर्योधनं प्रति शमोपदेशः | Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Counsel of Conciliation to Duryodhana
सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञां स्नुषां पाण्डोर्महात्मन: । ब्रूया माधव कल्याणीं कृष्ण कृष्णां यशस्विनीम्
sarvadharmaviśeṣajñāṃ snuṣāṃ pāṇḍor mahātmanaḥ | brūyā mādhava kalyāṇīṃ kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāṃ yaśasvinīm ||
The son said: “O Mādhava, please convey my words to that auspicious and illustrious Kṛṣṇā—Draupadī—who is the virtuous daughter-in-law of the great-souled Pāṇḍu and who knows the subtle distinctions of dharma. Tell her: ‘Child, you were born in a supremely fortunate and renowned lineage. The righteous and fitting conduct you have shown toward all my sons is truly worthy of you.’”
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma as nuanced and situational (“viśeṣa”): true righteousness is shown through appropriate, duty-aligned conduct within relationships. Draupadī is praised not merely for loyalty but for discerning and performing what is fitting toward each of the Pāṇḍavas according to dharma.
A speaker identified as “the son” asks Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), acting as a messenger, to convey a respectful commendation to Draupadī—Pāṇḍu’s daughter-in-law—acknowledging her auspicious birth and her proper, dharma-consistent behavior toward the speaker’s sons (the Pāṇḍavas).