Shloka 22
जयद्रथ-निग्रहः — Jayadratha Restrained, Shamed, and Released
(तस्मादेष महाबाहो तव यज्ञ: प्रवर्तताम् ।) एवमुक्तस्तु तैरविंप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्री महीपति: । कर्ण च सौबल चैव क्रातृश्वैवेदमब्रवीत्
tasmād eṣa mahābāho tava yajñaḥ pravartatām | evam uktas tu tair viprair dhārtarāṣṭrī mahīpatiḥ | karṇaṃ ca saubalaṃ caiva bhrātṝṃś caivेदam abravīt ||
«Ainsi donc, ô toi aux bras puissants, que ton sacrifice soit mis en œuvre.» Ainsi apostrophé par ces brāhmanes, le roi dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana) s’adressa en ces termes à Karṇa, à Saubala (Śakuni) et à ses frères—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual (yajña) and priestly endorsement can be invoked to authorize a ruler’s course of action. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether outwardly dharmic forms—like sacrifices—are being used to serve genuine righteousness or merely to strengthen political ambition.
Brahmins urge the ‘mighty-armed’ ruler to commence his sacrifice. After hearing them, Duryodhana turns to his key allies—Karṇa, Śakuni, and his brothers—and begins to state his plan or instructions, indicating a consequential decision is about to be made.