Shloka 9
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
वयं दुर्योधन हत्वा मृथे भोक्ष्याम मेदिनीम् । सम्पूर्णा सर्वकामानामाहवे विजयैषिण:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vayaṃ duryodhanaṃ hatvā mṛdhe bhokṣyāma medinīm | sampūrṇāḥ sarvakāmānām āhave vijayaiṣiṇaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Kita, yang mendambakan kemenangan di medan perang, akan membunuh Duryodhana dalam pertempuran, lalu menikmati bumi—yang lengkap dengan segala yang diingini.” (Demikianlah dahulu engkau sendiri menyemangati saudara-saudaramu di hutan Dvaitavana, menjanjikan bahawa derita akan berubah menjadi bahagia melalui kemenangan, kenikmatan yang benar menurut dharma, serta pemujaan yang ditopang oleh derma dan korban suci; maka mengapa kini engkau berkata sebaliknya hingga mematahkan hati mereka?)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader’s words create moral and emotional obligations: promises of courage and righteous purpose should not be withdrawn lightly, especially when others have endured hardship relying on that assurance. The verse underscores steadfast resolve (dhṛti) and responsible speech in the context of dharma and kingship.
The speaker recalls an earlier moment when the king encouraged his brothers during forest hardship, declaring that they would defeat Duryodhana and then enjoy the kingdom. Now, as the mood shifts, that earlier vow is cited to question why he is discouraging them and “breaking their hearts.”