Shloka 9
द्रुपदवाक्यं
Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization
स च दुर्योधनो नून॑ प्रेषयिष्यति सर्वश: । पूर्वाभिपन्ना: सन्तश्न भजन्ते पूर्वचोदनम्
sa ca duryodhano nūnaṁ preṣayiṣyati sarvaśaḥ | pūrvābhipannāḥ santaś ca bhajante pūrvacodanam ||
And surely Duryodhana will send out messages everywhere. For honorable kings, once they have already been approached first for help, tend to support the one who made the first request—holding to the prior summons as a matter of settled resolve.
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a political-ethical norm: honorable rulers often feel bound to the first party that sought their aid, treating prior commitment and the first summons as decisive in choosing sides.
Drupada anticipates Duryodhana’s diplomatic move—sending envoys widely to secure allies—and warns that many kings, having been approached first, may align with him out of a sense of prior obligation.