Shloka 22
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
अज्ञातवासं वसता विराटनगरे तदा | द्रौपद्या: प्रियकामेन केवलं बाहुसंश्रयात्
ajñātavāsaṃ vasatā virāṭanagare tadā | draupadyāḥ priyakāmena kevalaṃ bāhusaṃśrayāt ||
Sañjaya dit : En ce temps-là, tandis qu’il vivait caché dans la cité de Virāṭa, il n’agissait qu’en s’appuyant sur la force de ses propres bras, poussé par le désir de plaire à Draupadī. Le vers souligne l’éthique du guerrier : responsabilité personnelle et devoir de protection — choisir le courage direct, celui du corps, plutôt que de dépendre d’autrui lorsque l’honneur et le salut d’un être aimé sont en jeu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethic of personal valor and responsibility: when protecting dignity and fulfilling one’s duty, one should rely on one’s own disciplined strength and resolve, motivated by righteous affection rather than vanity.
Sañjaya recalls the time of the Pandavas’ incognito stay in Virāṭa’s city, describing how the hero (implied) acted to satisfy and protect Draupadī, depending solely on his own arm-strength—suggesting direct intervention and martial readiness during concealment.