Shloka 2
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
भ्रातृनहसि मे वीर मोक्तुं गन्धर्वसत्तम । अनर्हधर्षणा हीमे जीवमानेषु पाण्डुषु,“वीर गन्धर्वश्रेष्ठ! तुम्हें मेरे इन भाइयोंको मुक्त कर देना चाहिये। पाण्डवोंके जीते-जी ये इस प्रकार अपमान सहन करनेयोग्य नहीं हैं!
bhrātṝn ahasi me vīra moktuṁ gandharvasattama | anarhadharṣaṇā hīme jīvamāneṣu pāṇḍuṣu ||
वीर गंधर्वश्रेष्ठा! माझ्या या भावांना तू मुक्त करावे. पांडव जिवंत असताना यांना असा अपमान व अत्याचार सहन करणे योग्य नाही.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Kṣatriya concern for honor and public standing: Duryodhana frames captivity as an intolerable disgrace, especially in the presence of living rivals (the Pāṇḍavas). It also shows how pride and reputation can drive urgent, ethically charged appeals even to an enemy.
In the Vana Parva episode where the Kauravas are overpowered by Gandharvas, Duryodhana addresses the Gandharva leader, pleading that his brothers be released, arguing that such humiliation is improper to be borne while the Pāṇḍavas still live.