Shloka 373
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
मान्धाता चाम्बरीषश्न तथा राजन् विराजसे । नृपश्रेष्ठट जैसे मान्धाता और अम्बरीष भूमण्डलके समस्त राजाओंमें सम्मानित थे, राजन! वैसे ही आप भी सुशोभित हो रहे हैं
māndhātā cāmbārīṣaś ca tathā rājan virājase | nṛpaśreṣṭha yathā māndhātā ambarīṣo bhūmaṇḍalasya samastanṛpānāṃ madhye sammānitaḥ, tathā tvam api suśobhase ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, engkau bersinar sebagaimana Māndhātṛ dan Ambarīṣa pernah bersinar dahulu. Seperti para pemerintah terbaik itu dihormati dalam kalangan semua raja di bumi, demikian juga engkau kini terserlah—gemilang oleh penghormatan yang engkau terima dan kebajikan seorang raja yang engkau miliki.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds the ideal of rājadharma by measuring a present king against celebrated exemplars (Māndhātṛ and Ambarīṣa). True royal “splendor” is not mere power but the public recognition that arises from virtue, righteous conduct, and beneficent rule.
Vaiśampāyana offers a laudatory comparison: he tells the addressed king that he shines like the famed ancient rulers Māndhātṛ and Ambarīṣa, who were honored among all kings on earth. The statement functions as both praise and a moral benchmark for continued righteous governance.