Shloka 16
पुनर्द्यूत-समाह्वानम्
Renewed Summons to the Dice-Game and Exile Wager
सो<यं धर्मो मात्यगात् कौरवान् वै सभ्यान् गत्वा पृच्छ धर्म्य वचो मे । ते मां ब्रूयुर्निश्चितं तत् करिष्ये धर्मात्मानो नीतिमन्तो वरिष्ठा:
so ’yaṁ dharmo mātyagāt kauravān vai sabhyān gatvā pṛccha dharmyaṁ vaco me | te māṁ brūyur niścitaṁ tat kariṣye dharmātmāno nītimanto variṣṭhāḥ ||
Draupadī dit : « Afin que ma conduite ne s’écarte pas du Dharma, va trouver les Kaurava assis dans l’assemblée et pose en mon nom cette question conforme au droit : “Que dois-je faire en cet instant ?” Quoi que décident et m’ordonnent ces hommes éminents—droits dans le Dharma et versés dans l’art du gouvernement—je l’accomplirai assurément. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When faced with a morally fraught situation, one should consciously safeguard dharma by seeking guidance from those reputed to be righteous and discerning, and then act with firm resolve according to that considered judgment.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) expresses the intention to avoid any breach of dharma by sending someone to the Kauravas seated in the royal assembly to ask what action is proper at that moment, promising to follow the decision of the eminent, dharma-minded elders.