Shloka 16
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
यदिदं द्रौपदीवाक्यमुक्तवत्यसकृच्छुभा । विमृश्य कस्य कः पक्ष: पार्थिवा वदतोत्तरम्
yad idaṃ draupadīvākyam uktavaty asakṛc chubhā | vimṛśya kasya kaḥ pakṣaḥ pārthivā vadatottaram, rājāo! |
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Renungkanlah dengan saksama kata-kata Draupadī yang mulia—kata-kata yang telah ia ulangi berkali-kali. Lalu, wahai para raja, berikan jawaban, agar jelas dalam perkara ini pendirian masing-masing.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes responsible judgment: before taking sides, the assembled rulers must deliberate on Draupadī’s repeated ethical-legal question and then state their positions openly, making accountability and clarity in dharma-discourse central.
In the royal assembly after Draupadī has repeatedly posed her challenge, Vaiśampāyana narrates that the kings are urged to reflect on her words and respond, so it becomes evident who supports which interpretation in the dispute.