Shloka 19
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 72 — Bhīmasena’s counsel on conciliation and Duryodhana’s disposition
आकृष्य केशे रुदती सभायां राजसंसदि । भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतो गौरिति व्याहृता मुहुः,उन दिनों जब जूएका खेल चल रहा था, अत्यन्त दुरात्मा पापी दुःशासन अनाथकी भाँति रोती-कलपती हुई महारानी द्रौपदीको उनके केश पकड़कर राजसभामें घसीट लाया और भीष्म तथा द्रोणाचार्य आदिके समक्ष उसने उनका उपहास करते हुए बारंबार उसे “गाय” कहकर पुकारा
ākṛṣya keśe rudatī sabhāyāṃ rājasansadi | bhīṣmadroṇapramukhato gaur iti vyāhṛtā muhuḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Sambil dia menangis di balairung diraja, dia diseret dengan menarik rambutnya; di hadapan Bhīṣma, Droṇa, dan para tua-tua yang terkemuka, dia berkali-kali dihina dengan jeritan ‘lembu!’—suatu penghinaan terbuka yang kejam, yang menyingkap runtuhnya dharma di istana.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public institutions collapse when power is used to humiliate the vulnerable and when respected elders remain passive. It frames the outrage not only as personal cruelty but as a visible breach of dharma within the royal court.
Yudhiṣṭhira recalls Draupadī’s humiliation in the assembly: she is dragged by the hair while crying, and in front of Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and other leaders she is repeatedly taunted with the word ‘cow,’ underscoring the court’s moral failure.