Shloka 8
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
तैर्मोक्षितो<हं दुर्बृद्धिर्दत्तं तैरैव जीवितम् । जिनका मैंने सदा तिरस्कार किया और जिनका मैं सर्वदा शत्रु बना रहा, उन्हीं लोगोंने मुझ दुर्बुद्धिको शत्रुओंके बन्धनसे छुड़ाया है और उन्होंने ही मुझे जीवनदान दिया है ।। ७३ || प्राप्त: स्यां यद्य॒हं वीर वधधं तस्मिन् महारणे
Duryodhana uvāca: tair mokṣito 'haṁ durbuddhir dattaṁ tair eva jīvitam |
Duryodhana said: “I, of misguided understanding, have been freed by them; it is they alone who have granted me my life. Those whom I have always scorned and against whom I have constantly stood as an enemy—those very people have released me from the bonds of my foes and bestowed life upon me.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even entrenched hostility can be overturned by an unexpected act of protection; the verse highlights the ethical force of compassion and restraint in conflict, and exposes how pride collapses when one’s life is saved by those one has wronged.
Duryodhana reflects that he has been rescued from the captivity/bonds imposed by his enemies, and he acknowledges—bitterly and with self-reproach—that the very people he habitually insulted and treated as enemies are the ones who saved his life.