Shloka 62
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
विकर्णेन यथाप्रज्ञमुक्त: प्रश्नो नराधिपा: । भवन्तो5पि हि त॑ प्रश्न॑ विब्रुवन्तु यथामति
Vikarṇena yathāprajñam uktaḥ praśno narādhipāḥ | bhavanto 'pi hi taṁ praśnaṁ vibruvantu yathāmati ||
Wahai para raja, Vikarṇa telah menjawab pertanyaan ini menurut pemahamannya. Kini kalian pun hendaknya masing-masing menyatakan, menurut pertimbangan kalian sendiri, keputusan yang benar atas pertanyaan yang sama—dalam perkara penghinaan Draupadī dan upaya penelanjangan pakaiannya.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura urges accountable speech and ethical judgment in public life: when dharma is under dispute, especially amid injustice, elders and rulers must not hide behind silence. Each must state what is right according to conscience and reason, accepting responsibility for the decision.
In the Kuru assembly during the crisis surrounding Draupadī’s humiliation, Vikarṇa has already offered his view on the legal-moral question being debated. Vidura now challenges the gathered kings and elders to give their own verdicts, pressing them to confront the wrongdoing rather than evade it.