Shloka 16
तच्छुत्वा द्रुपदो राजा कुन्तीपुत्रस्य भाषितम् । विगर्हयमास तदा धृतराष्ट्रं नरेश्वरम्,कुन्तीकुमारके मुखसे वह सारा समाचार सुनकर वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ महाराज द्रपदने उस समय राजा धुृतराष्ट्रकी बड़ी निन्दा की और कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरको आश्वासन दिया। साथ ही उन्होंने यह प्रतिज्ञा भी की कि “हम तुम्हें तुम्हारा राज्य दिलवाकर रहेंगे”
tac chrutvā drupado rājā kuntīputrasya bhāṣitam | vigarhayāmāsa tadā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ nareśvaram ||
Hearing the words spoken by Kuntī’s son, King Drupada at that time strongly censured Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the lord of men. In ethical indignation at the injustice done, he reassured Yudhiṣṭhira and pledged that he would see to it that the rightful kingdom was restored to him.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s legitimacy rests on dharma: when injustice is done to the rightful heir, ethical leadership requires frank censure of wrongdoing and active commitment to restore justice, not silent complicity.
After hearing Yudhiṣṭhira’s words, Drupada denounces Dhṛtarāṣṭra for his conduct and offers Yudhiṣṭhira reassurance, aligning himself with the cause of restoring the Pandavas’ rightful sovereignty.