Shloka 19
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
विब्रूत पृथिवीपाला वाक््यं मा वा कथंचन । मन्ये न्याय्यं यदत्राहं तद्धि वक्ष्यामि कौरवा:
vibrūta pṛthivīpālā vākyaṃ mā vā kathaṃcana | manye nyāyyaṃ yadatrāhaṃ taddhi vakṣyāmi kauravāḥ ||
“Wahai para raja, janganlah memutarbalikkan ucapanku dengan cara apa pun. Di sini akan kukatakan apa yang kupandang adil dan patut—dengarkanlah, wahai para Kaurava.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes integrity in communication: do not twist another’s words, and judge matters by what is nyāyya—just and dharmically proper—before speaking.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana addresses kings/Kauravas, asking them not to misconstrue his statement and announcing that he will present what he deems the rightful, just position in the matter at hand.