Shloka 13
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 180 — Svayaṃvara-Virodha and Pāṇḍava Parākrama
Draupadī Episode
अत एषामहं क़ुद्धो लोकानामी श्वरो हाहम् । भवतां च वचो नालमहं समभिवर्तितुम्
ata eṣām ahaṃ kruddho lokānām īśvaro hāham | bhavatāṃ ca vaco nālam ahaṃ samabhivartitum || śama eva paro dharmas tam ācara parāśara | adharmiṣṭha variṣṭhaḥ san kuruṣe tvaṃ parāśara ||
Aurva berkata: “Maka sebab itu aku murka terhadap segala alam—wahai, aku yang menjadi tuannya. Aku tidak mampu memenuhi permintaanmu. Parāśara, pengendalian diri itulah dharma yang tertinggi; amalkanlah itu. Walaupun engkau Brahmana yang terkemuka, mengapa engkau melakukan perbuatan yang tidak benar ini?”
ऑर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates śama (self-restraint, calm) as the supreme dharma—especially for brāhmaṇas—and criticizes acting from anger or pursuing punishment as an unrighteous course even when one has power.
Aurva, burning with anger at the failure to protect his forefathers and feeling empowered to punish, refuses to accept counsel. He then admonishes the sage Parāśara, urging restraint as the highest duty and questioning why a foremost brāhmaṇa would engage in adharmic action.