Shloka 18
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
न श्रुतेन न दानेन न सान्त्वेन न चेज्यया । त्वयेयं पृथिवी लब्धा न संकोचेन चाप्युत,आपको यह पृथिवी न तो शास्त्रोंके श्रवणसे मिली है, न दानमें प्राप्त हुई है,न किसीको समझाने-बुझानेसे उपलब्ध हुई है, न यज्ञ करानेसे और न कहीं भीख माँगनेसे ही प्राप्त हुई है
na śrutena na dānena na sāntvena na cejyayā | tvayeyaṃ pṛthivī labdhā na saṃkocena cāpy uta ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Kedaulatan atas bumi ini tidak engkau peroleh melalui mendengar ajaran suci, bukan melalui pemberian, bukan melalui pujukan damai, bukan melalui pelaksanaan korban suci; dan sesungguhnya bukan pula melalui merendahkan diri atau memohon dengan hina. Ia datang kepadamu melalui jalan yang lain—yang menandakan kuasa dan paksaan, bukan kebajikan yang lazimnya mengabsahkan pemerintahan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts dharmic means of gaining authority—learning, generosity, conciliation, and sacrifice—with the implied reality that the realm was secured by non-dharmic means such as coercion or force. It questions the moral legitimacy of power when it is not grounded in virtue.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the discourse in Śānti Parva, reports a pointed assessment addressed to a ruler: the earth/kingdom has not been obtained through recognized righteous practices (study, charity, diplomacy, ritual), nor through humble restraint—suggesting it was gained through harsher political action, setting up a reflection on rightful governance.