Shloka 16

द्रुपदवाक्यं

Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization

Devanagari script

नीलश्न वीरधर्मा च भूमिपालश्च वीर्यवान्‌ दुर्जयो दन्‍तवक्त्रश्न रुकमी च जनमेजय:

Transliteration

nīlaś ca vīradharmā ca bhūmipālaś ca vīryavān | durjayo dantavaktraś ca rukmī ca janamejaya ||

Translation

Drupada dit : «Ô Janamejaya, Nīla, Vīradharma, le puissant roi Bhūmipāla, l’invincible Durjaya, Dantavaktra, et Rukmī aussi : tous sont des souverains renommés pour leur vaillance.»

Word by Word

• नीलश्वः: Nīlaśva (a king/warrior; lit. ‘having blue horses’)
• नीलश्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीलश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वीरधर्मा: Vīradharmā (one whose conduct is heroic / a hero in conduct)
• वीरधर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरधर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भूमिपालः: protector of the earth; king
• भूमिपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वीर्यवान्: valorous; possessing prowess
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्जयः: hard to conquer; invincible
• दुर्जयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दन्तवक्त्रः: Dantavaktra (a king/warrior; lit. ‘tusk-faced’)
• दन्तवक्त्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तवक्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• रुक्मी: Rukmī (a king/warrior; ‘golden/ornamented’)
• रुक्मी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• जनमेजयः: Janamejaya (a king)
• जनमेजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

दुपद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• दुपद (Drupada)
• जनमेजय (Janamejaya)
• नील (Nīla)
• वीरधर्मा (Vīradharmā)
• भूमिपाल (Bhūmipāla)
• दुर्जय (Durjaya)
• दन्तवक्त्र (Dantavaktra)
• रुक्मी (Rukmī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: rulers are recognized by vīrya (valor) and vīra-dharma (steadfast warrior-duty). It implicitly frames political legitimacy around protection, courage, and readiness to uphold one’s obligations—while also warning that such power, when amassed, can intensify conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Drupada is naming notable kings/warriors to Janamejaya, presenting a roster of powerful figures. The enumeration functions as a political-military survey, indicating the scale of forces and reputations involved as events move toward confrontation.