Shloka 6
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
ऊचुश्न वाच: परुषास्ते राजानो युयुत्सव: । आहवे हि द्विजस्यापि वधो दृष्टो युयुत्मत:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: ūcuḥ sma vācaḥ paruṣās te rājāno yuyutsavaḥ | āhave hi dvijasya api vadho dṛṣṭo yuyutmataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Raja-raja itu, yang ghairah untuk bertempur, berkata dengan nada keras: “Sesungguhnya di medan perang, bahkan pembunuhan seorang brāhmaṇa pun pernah dilihat sebagai dibenarkan oleh aturan—apabila dia sendiri berhasrat untuk berperang.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a wartime ethical claim: social-religious status (dvija/brāhmaṇa) does not grant immunity if one adopts the intention and role of a fighter; the speakers appeal to precedent and śāstric reasoning to justify harsh action in battle.
Vaiśampāyana reports that certain kings, eager for combat, respond harshly and argue that even a brāhmaṇa may be slain on the battlefield if he is himself war-minded—setting a justificatory tone for the conflict at hand.