Shloka 40
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
वृत्तो ब्रह्मोत्तरो रड्र: पाज्चाली ब्राह्मुणैर्वता । इति ब्रुवन्त: प्रययुर्ये तत्रासन् समागता:,वहाँ जो दर्शक एकत्र हुए थे, वे “इस रंग-मण्डपके उत्सवसे ब्राह्मणोंकी श्रेष्ठता सिद्ध हुई; पांचालराजकुमारी द्रौपदीको ब्राह्मणोंने प्राप्त किया“, यों कहते हुए (अपने-अपने निवासस्थानको) चले गये
vṛtto brahmottaro raṅgaḥ pāñcālī brāhmaṇair vṛtā | iti bruvantaḥ prayayur ye tatrāsan samāgatāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The spectators who had gathered there departed to their respective homes, saying, “By this festival in the arena, the pre-eminence of the Brāhmaṇas has been demonstrated; and the Pāñcāla princess Draupadī has been won by the Brāhmaṇas.” The scene underscores how public acclaim can frame events in terms of social dharma and perceived merit, attributing success to the status and conduct associated with the Brāhmaṇa ideal.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how society interprets success through the lens of dharma and varṇa: the crowd proclaims Brāhmaṇa pre-eminence and credits the outcome (Draupadī being won) to the Brāhmaṇa identity, showing the ethical weight given to perceived status, conduct, and ritual-social ideals.
After the arena event connected with Draupadī’s selection, the assembled spectators disperse, commenting that the festival proved the superiority of the Brāhmaṇas and that the Pāñcāla princess Draupadī was obtained by them.