Shloka 76
अङ्गददूतवाक्यं लङ्काप्राकारभेदनं च
Angada’s Embassy and the Breach of Laṅkā’s Ramparts
पति: सौवीरसिन्धूनां दुष्टभावो जयद्रथ: । वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! कोटिकास्यके ऐसा कहनेपर सौवीर और सिन्धु आदि देशोंके स्वामी जयद्रथने मनमें दुर्भावना लेकर उसे उत्तर दिया--'अच्छा, मैं भी द्रौपदीसे मिल लेता हूँ”
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
patiḥ sauvīra-sindhūnāṁ duṣṭa-bhāvo jayadrathaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sauvīras and the Sindhus, harbored a wicked intention. In response, he spoke with corrupt resolve—implying that he too would seek an illicit encounter with Draupadī. The verse highlights how lust and malice distort judgment and lead a king away from dharma.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s inner intention (bhāva) determines whether he upholds dharma; when desire and malice arise, even kingship becomes a vehicle for adharma, leading to unethical speech and action.
The narrator identifies Jayadratha as the sovereign of Sauvīra and Sindhu and notes his malicious mindset as he responds—setting up his wrongful pursuit of Draupadī in the surrounding episode.