Mahabharata 1.192.13 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 192, Shloka 13
द्रौपदी-वरण-प्रत्ययः — Intelligence Reports and the Kaurava Court’s Response
ते नर्दमाना इव कालमेघा: कथा विचित्रा: कथयाम्बभूवु: | न वैश्यशूद्रौोपयिकी: कथास्ता न च द्विजानां कथयन्ति वीरा:
te nardamānā iva kālameghāḥ kathā vicitrāḥ kathayāmbabhūvuḥ | na vaiśyaśūdrāupayikīḥ kathās tā na ca dvijānāṃ kathayanti vīrāḥ | yathā hi lakṣyaṃ nihataṃ dhanuṣṇaḥ sajyaṃ kṛtaṃ tena tathā prasahā | yathā hi bhāṣanti parasparaṃ te channā dhruvaṃ te pracaranti pārthāḥ ||
“Mereka mengaum bagaikan awan petir, lalu saling bertukar bicara yang ajaib dan beraneka. Tutur kata itu bukanlah seperti yang digunakan oleh vaiśya atau śūdra, dan para wira itu juga tidak berbicara seperti brahmin biasa. Daripada cara busur itu direntang dengan paksa, daripada cara sasaran yang sukar itu dijatuhkan, dan daripada cara mereka berbahas sesama sendiri, pastilah: putera-putera Kuntī—para Pārtha—sedang bergerak di sini dalam penyamaran.”
धृष्टह्ुम्न उवाच
Educational Q&A
Inner nature reveals itself through conduct: strength, skill, and even patterns of speech can disclose one’s true identity despite outward disguise. The verse also reflects the epic’s awareness of social registers (how different groups are expected to speak) and the ethical idea that deeds are stronger evidence than appearances.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna observes a group moving about in brahmin guise. Noting their thunderous confidence, their refined manner of speech, the force with which they string the bow, and their decisive hitting of a difficult target, he concludes they must be the Pāṇḍavas (sons of Kuntī), concealed and traveling incognito.
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