Shloka 166
Drupada’s Instruction to the Purohita for the Kaurava Embassy (द्रुपदोपदेशः दूतप्रेषणम्)
दूतकर्मणि युक्तश्न स्थविरश्न॒ विशेषत: । आपको उनसे कोई भय नहीं है; क्योंकि आप वेदवेत्ता ब्राह्मण हैं। विशेषतः दूतकर्ममें नियुक्त और वृद्ध हैं
dūtakarmaṇi yuktaś ca sthaviraś ca viśeṣataḥ | āpako tebhyo na bhayaṃ; yasmād tvaṃ vedavettā brāhmaṇaḥ | viśeṣataḥ dūtakarmani niyuktaḥ vṛddhaś ca ||
Engkau tak punya alasan untuk takut kepada mereka, sebab engkau adalah brāhmaṇa yang menguasai Weda. Terlebih lagi, engkau seorang tetua yang ditunjuk menjalankan tugas sebagai utusan. Seorang pembawa pesan yang selaras dengan dharma tidak patut disakiti.
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dūta-dharma: an envoy, especially an elder and a Veda-knowing Brahmin, should be treated as protected and not harmed; ethical restraint must govern even hostile political encounters.
Drupada reassures a messenger that there is no danger from the opposing side, emphasizing the messenger’s protected status due to his role as envoy, his age, and his Vedic learning.