Shloka 49
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
सूत उवाच धर्म्यं न्याय्यं सकरुणं निर्व्यलीकं समं महत् । राजा धर्मसुतो राज्ञ्या: प्रत्यनन्दद्वचो द्विजा: ॥ ४९ ॥
sūta uvāca dharmyaṁ nyāyyaṁ sakaruṇaṁ nirvyalīkaṁ samaṁ mahat rājā dharma-suto rājñyāḥ pratyanandad vaco dvijāḥ
സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ദ്വിജന്മാരേ, രാജ്ഞിയുടെ വാക്കുകൾ ധർമ്മാനുസൃതവും ന്യായ്യവും കരുണാപൂർണ്ണവും കപടരഹിതവും സമത്വമുള്ളതും മഹത്തുമായിരുന്നതിനാൽ ധർമ്മസുതൻ യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ അവയെ പൂർണ്ണമായി പിന്തുണച്ചു।
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, who was the son of Dharmarāja, or Yamarāja, fully supported the words of Queen Draupadī in asking Arjuna to release Aśvatthāmā. One should not tolerate the humiliation of a member of a great family. Arjuna and his family were indebted to the family of Droṇācārya because of Arjuna’s learning the military science from him. If ingratitude were shown to such a benevolent family, it would not be at all justified from the moral standpoint. The wife of Droṇācārya, who was the half body of the great soul, must be treated with compassion, and she should not be put into grief because of her son’s death. That is compassion. Such statements by Draupadī are without duplicity because actions should be taken with full knowledge. The feeling of equality was there because Draupadī spoke out of her personal experience. A barren woman cannot understand the grief of a mother. Draupadī was herself a mother, and therefore her calculation of the depth of Kṛpī’s grief was quite to the point. And it was glorious because she wanted to show proper respect to a great family.
FAQs
This verse praises speech that is dharmic and just, yet compassionate—free from deceit, impartial, and noble—showing that true righteousness includes mercy and honesty.
Because her counsel aligned with dharma: it was fair, compassionate, non-deceptive, and even-minded—qualities Yudhishthira, known as Dharma’s son, naturally upheld.
When making decisions or speaking in conflict, aim for truthfulness without cruelty: be fair, avoid manipulation, keep an impartial mind, and let compassion guide your justice.