Shloka 9
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
दुर्योधनादय: सर्वे ब्राह्म॒णैः सह संगता: । मृदुपूर्वमयत्नेन प्रत्ययुध्यंस्तदाहवे
duryodhanādayaḥ sarve brāhmaṇaiḥ saha saṅgatāḥ | mṛdupūrvam ayatnena pratyayudhyanta tadāhave ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian Duryodhana dan yang lain, setelah berhimpun bersama para brāhmaṇa, mula berbalas tempur di medan itu dengan lembut dan tanpa banyak mengerah tenaga—seakan suatu perlawanan yang ditahan, hampir seperti permainan, bukan pergelutan yang ganas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the setting of battle, conduct can be moderated by dharma: restraint, self-control, and respect—especially in the presence of brāhmaṇas—can temper aggression and prevent needless cruelty.
Duryodhana and his companions, together with brāhmaṇas, enter into a form of reciprocal combat on the battlefield, but they do so mildly and without intense effort, suggesting a controlled or non-lethal style of fighting in that moment.