Shloka 1
Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्माभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत अर्जुनाथिगमनपर्वमें द्रौपदीके अनुतापपूर्णगचनविषयक सत्ताईसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ २७ ॥ #ऑप5.0 #:०० () हे - क्षरते इति क्षत्रमू--जो दुष्टोंका क्षरण--नाश करता है, वह क्षत्रिय है। अष्टाविशोश् ध्याय: द्रौपदीद्वारा प्रह्लाद-बलि-संवादका वर्णन--तेज और क्षमाके अवसर द्रौपहुुवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । प्रह्लादस्य च संवाद बलेवैंरोचनस्य च,द्रौपदी कहती है--महाराज! इस विषयमें प्रह्नमाद तथा विरोचनपुत्र बलिके संवादरूप इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | iti śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi antar-gate arjunābhigamana-parvaṇi draupadyā anutāpa-pūrṇa-vacana-viṣayakaḥ saptaviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ || 27 || aṭṭhāviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ—draupadyā prahlāda-bali-saṃvādasya varṇanam—tejaḥ kṣamā ca yathāvasaram | draupadī uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | prahlādasya ca saṃvādaṃ baler vairocanasya ca ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus ends the twenty-seventh chapter in the Vana Parva of the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the section called the ‘Arjuna’s Departure/Setting Forth’ episode, dealing with Draupadī’s words of remorse. Now begins the twenty-eighth chapter, describing Draupadī’s narration of the dialogue between Prahlāda and Bali—showing how vigor and forbearance each have their proper occasion. Draupadī said: “In this matter too, people cite an ancient precedent: the dialogue of Prahlāda and Bali, the son of Virocana.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: when should one employ tejas (assertive strength) and when kṣamā (forbearance). Draupadī introduces an ancient exemplum—the Prahlāda–Bali dialogue—to guide judgment about appropriate conduct in difficult circumstances.
A chapter colophon closes the previous chapter about Draupadī’s remorseful speech, and the new chapter opens with Draupadī announcing that she will cite an old story: the conversation between Prahlāda and Bali, son of Virocana.