Shloka 19
द्रौपद्याः शोकवचनम्
Draupadī’s Lament and Indictment of Misfortune
सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं द्वेष्यं वा यदि वा प्रियम् यथावत् सर्वमाचक्ष्व श्र॒त्वा ज्ञास्यामि यत् क्षमम्
sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ dveṣyaṃ vā yadi vā priyam | yathāvat sarvam ācakṣva śrutvā jñāsyāmi yat kṣamam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Whether it be happiness or sorrow, whether it be what is hateful or what is dear—tell me everything exactly as it happened. Having heard it, I shall understand what response is proper and fitting.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should hear a matter fully and accurately—whether pleasant or unpleasant—before judging what is appropriate (kṣama) to think or do; ethical discernment depends on truthful, complete reporting.
In the frame narration, Vaiśampāyana urges that the account be given exactly as it occurred, regardless of whether it contains agreeable or disagreeable elements, so that he can determine the proper course or understanding.