Shloka 24
आदि पर्व — द्रौपदी-स्वयंवरानन्तरवृत्तम्
Aftermath of Draupadī’s Svayaṃvara
त्वदर्थमागता भगद्रे क्षत्रिया: प्रथिता भुवि | एते भेत्स्यन्ति विक्रान्तास्त्वदर्थे लक्ष्यमुत्तमम् विध्येत य इदं लक्ष्यं वरयेथा: शुभेडद्य तम्,भगीरथवंशी बृहत्क्षत्र, सिन्धुराज जयद्रथ, बृहद्रथ, बाह्नलीक, महारथी श्रुतायु, उलूक, राजा कैतव, चित्रांगद, शुभांगद, बुद्धिमान् वत्सराज, कोसलनरेश, पराक्रमी शिशुपाल तथा जरासंध--ये तथा और भी अनेक जनपदोंके शासक भूमण्डलमें विख्यात बहुत-से क्षत्रिय वीर तुम्हारे लिये यहाँ पधारे हैं। भद्रे! ये पराक्रमी नरेश तुम्हें पानेके उद्देश्यसे इस उत्तम लक्ष्यका भेदन करेंगे। शुभे! जो इस निशानेको वेध डाले, उसीका आज तुम वरण करना
tvadartham āgatā bhadre kṣatriyāḥ prathitā bhuvi | ete bhetsyanti vikrāntās tvadarthe lakṣyam uttamam | vidhyet ya idaṃ lakṣyaṃ varayethāḥ śubhe ’dya tam ||
Dhṛṣṭadyumna said: “For your sake, O noble lady, renowned kṣatriyas celebrated across the earth have come here. These valiant men, seeking you, will now attempt to pierce this excellent target. O auspicious one, choose today as your husband the man who succeeds in striking this mark.”
धृष्टह्युम्न उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames marriage-choice within kṣatriya social ethics: public merit (success in the prescribed feat) becomes the criterion for selection, emphasizing valor, discipline, and adherence to the announced rule rather than private preference or coercion.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna addresses the bride and the gathered kings, announcing that many famed warriors have come for her hand and that they will attempt to win her by piercing the designated target; she is instructed to choose the one who hits it.