Shloka 39
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 28: Dharmādharmalakṣaṇa in Āpad
Crisis-Discernment of Right and Wrong
दुःशासन: प्रातिलोम्यान्निनाय सभामध्ये श्वशुराणां च कृष्णाम् । सा तत्र नीता करुणं व्यपेक्ष्य नानय॑ क्षत्तु्नाथमवाप किंचित्,दुःशासन मर्यादाके विपरीत द्रौपदीको सभाके भीतर श्वशुरजनोंके समक्ष घसीट ले गया। द्रौपदीने वहाँ जाकर कातरभावसे चारों ओर करुणदृष्टि डाली, परंतु उसने वहाँ विदुरजीके सिवा और किसीको अपना रक्षक नहीं पाया
Duḥśāsanaḥ prātilomyān nināya sabhāmadhye śvaśurāṇāṃ ca kṛṣṇām | sā tatra nītā karuṇaṃ vyapekṣya nānayak kṣattur nātham avāpa kiñcit ||
Duḥśāsana, acting in utter violation of propriety and right order, dragged Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) into the assembly, before her elders and in-laws. Brought there, she cast a piteous glance around, seeking compassion and protection; yet in that hall she found no true refuge in anyone—except Vidura, the kṣattṛ (royal counselor).
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prātilomya—an act that overturns moral and social order—as a hallmark of adharma. It also condemns the court’s failure to protect the vulnerable: when power and elders remain silent before injustice, only the truly dhārmic (here, Vidura) stands as refuge.
Duḥśāsana forcibly brings Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā) into the royal assembly in front of her in-laws and elders. She looks around in distress for someone to defend her, but finds no protector there except Vidura, the kṣattṛ and moral voice of the court.