Shloka 18

Drupada’s Instruction to the Purohita for the Kaurava Embassy (द्रुपदोपदेशः दूतप्रेषणम्)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच तथानुशिष्ट: प्रययौ ट्रपदेन महात्मना । पुरोधा वृत्तसम्पन्नो नगरं नागसाह्दयम्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! महामना राजा द्रुपदके द्वारा इस प्रकार अनुशासित होकर सदाचार-सम्पन्न पुरोहितने हस्तिनापुरको प्रस्थान किया

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tathānuśiṣṭaḥ prayayau Drupadena mahātmanā | purodhā vṛttasampanno nagaraṃ Nāgasāhvayam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Thus instructed by the high-souled King Drupada, the family priest—endowed with upright conduct—set out for the city known as Nāgasāhvaya (Hastināpura).

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

तथाthus, in that manner

अनुशिष्टःhaving been instructed

प्रययौdeparted, went forth

द्रुपदेनby Drupada

महात्मनाby the great-souled (one)

पुरोधाःthe family priest, purohita

वृत्तसम्पन्नःendowed with good conduct

नगरम्to the city

नागसाह्वयम्named Nāga (i.e., Hāstinapura)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Drupada

purohita (royal priest)

Nāgasāhvaya (Hastināpura)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A mission should proceed under rightful instruction (anuśāsana) and be carried by a person of proven character (vṛtta-sampanna). Ethical fitness is presented as essential for public or royal duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed by King Drupada, the royal priest departs for Nāgasāhvaya—i.e., Hastināpura—indicating the start of a purposeful journey, likely connected with negotiations and preparations in the Udyoga Parva context.