Shloka 16
Divākara-prasāda and the Establishment of Akṣaya-anna
Sūrya’s Favor and Inexhaustible Provision
दुःशासनो याचतु भीमसेनं सभामध्ये द्रुपदस्यात्मजां च । युधिष्टिरं त्वं परिसान्त्वयस्व राज्ये चैनं स्थापयस्वाभिपूज्य,दुःशासन भरी सभामें भीमसेन तथा द्रौपदीसे क्षमा माँगे और आप युधिष्ठिरको भलीभाँति सान्त्वना दे सम्मानपूर्वक इस राज्यपर बिठा दीजिये
duḥśāsano yācatu bhīmasenaṃ sabhāmadhye drupadasyātmajāṃ ca | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tvaṃ parisāntvayasva rājye cainaṃ sthāpayasvābhipūjya ||
Let Duḥśāsana, in the very midst of the royal assembly, beg forgiveness from Bhīmasena and from Draupada’s daughter (Draupadī). You, meanwhile, should thoroughly console Yudhiṣṭhira and, honoring him, restore him to his rightful place in the kingdom.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wrongdoing committed publicly should be acknowledged and atoned for publicly; reconciliation requires humility from the offender and respectful restoration of rightful order. Vidura’s dharmic counsel aims to prevent escalation by combining apology, consolation, and the reinstatement of legitimate kingship.
Vidura proposes a concrete remedy to the crisis: Duḥśāsana should seek forgiveness from Bhīma and Draupadī in the assembly, while Yudhiṣṭhira should be consoled and honorably re-established in sovereignty—an attempt to heal the breach and avert further conflict.