Shloka 86
Drupada’s Instruction to the Purohita for the Kaurava Embassy (द्रुपदोपदेशः दूतप्रेषणम्)
मनांसि तस्य योधानां ध्रुवमावर्तयिष्यति । परंतु आप राजा धुृतराष्ट्रसे धर्मयुक्त बातें कहकर उनके योद्धाओंका मन निश्चय ही अपनी ओर फेर लेंगे
manāṁsi tasya yodhānāṁ dhruvam āvartayiṣyati | parantu āpa rājā dhṛtarāṣṭrase dharmayukta bāteṁ kahakara unake yoddhāoṁkā mana niścaya hī apanī ora phera leṁge |
Drupada dit : «Il détournera à coup sûr l’esprit des guerriers de ce roi. Mais toi, ô Roi, en adressant à Dhṛtarāṣṭra des paroles fondées sur le dharma, tu attireras certainement le cœur de ses combattants vers ton camp.»
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as a persuasive and stabilizing force in politics: righteous speech and ethically grounded counsel can win loyalty more effectively than mere power or intimidation.
Drupada is advising a kingly interlocutor that influence over the opposing side’s warriors can be achieved; specifically, by addressing Dhṛtarāṣṭra with dharma-aligned words, their resolve may shift and their allegiance may be drawn toward the speaker’s side.