Shloka 18
अङ्गददूतवाक्यं लङ्काप्राकारभेदनं च
Angada’s Embassy and the Breach of Laṅkā’s Ramparts
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्ता सिन्धुराजेन वाक््यं हृदयकम्पनम् | कृष्णा तस्मादपाक्रामद् देशात् सभ्रुकुटीमुखी,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! सिन्धुराज जयद्रथके मुखसे यह हृदय कँपा देनेवाली बात सुनकर ट्रुपदकुमारी कृष्णा उस स्थानसे दूर हट गयी। उसके मुखपर रोष छा गया और उसकी भौंहें तन गयीं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktā sindhurājena vākyaṃ hṛdayakampanam | kṛṣṇā tasmād apākrāmad deśāt sabhrukuṭīmukhī ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When she heard from the Sindhu king those words that made the heart tremble, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) withdrew from that place. Her face tightened with anger, her brows drawn together—signaling indignation at the affront and the moral danger implicit in his speech.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical boundary: speech that threatens or violates another’s dignity is adharma, and Draupadī’s immediate withdrawal and visible indignation model moral resistance—refusing complicity and signaling that the act is unacceptable.
After Jayadratha (the Sindhu king) speaks words that deeply unsettle her, Draupadī steps away from the spot. Her expression—knitted brows and an anger-darkened face—shows she recognizes the gravity of his intent and reacts with firm displeasure.