Shloka 10
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
विरथांश्व रथान् कृत्वा निहत्य च महागजान् | संस्तीर्य च रथैर्भूमिं ससादिभिररिंदमा:
virathānśva-rathān kṛtvā nihatya ca mahāgajān | saṃstīrya ca rathair bhūmiṃ sasādibhir ariṃdamāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, saudara-saudara gagah yang menundukkan musuh itu dahulu pernah berkata dengan tekad yang teguh: ‘Kita akan menewaskan Duryodhana di medan perang, menjadikan para pahlawan kereta tanpa kereta, dan membunuh gajah-gajah besar; dengan kereta-kereta perang beserta pasukan kuda penariknya, kita akan menutupi bumi seakan-akan menghamparkannya dengan permaidani. Sesudah itu kita akan menikmati seluruh bumi, kaya dengan segala kenikmatan. Dan dengan melaksanakan banyak yajña yang makmur, disempurnakan dengan derma dan dakṣiṇā (pemberian kepada pendeta), serta tekun dalam pemujaan kepada Tuhan, dukacita akibat pembuangan di rimba ini akan berubah menjadi kebahagiaan.’ Setelah tuanku sendiri pernah menguatkan hati mereka dengan kata-kata demikian di Dvaitavana, mengapa kini tuanku mematahkan hati kami sekali lagi?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores ethical consistency and responsibility in leadership: one who has strengthened others with vows of courage and righteous purpose should not later undermine their morale. It also links martial resolve with post-war dharmic restoration through sacrifice, generosity, and devotion.
In the Shānti Parva frame, a recollection is made of earlier days in Dvaitavana when the brothers, enduring hardships of exile, were encouraged with confident promises: they would defeat Duryodhana, devastate enemy forces, and then rule and perform great sacrifices. The speaker contrasts that earlier encouragement with the present moment, questioning why their hearts are now being broken.