Shloka 14
Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)
गते भीष्मे महाराज धार॑राष्ट्रो जनेश्वर: । पुनरागम्य तं देशममन्त्रयत मन्कत्रिभि:,महाराज! भीष्मके चले जानेपर राजा दुर्योधन फिर उसी स्थानपर लौट आया और अपने मन्त्रियोंके साथ गुप्त मन्त्रणा करने लगा--
gate bhīṣme mahārāja dhārtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ | punar āgamya taṃ deśam amantrayata mantribhiḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Setelah Bhīṣma beredar, wahai Maharaja, putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra—penguasa manusia (Duryodhana)—kembali ke tempat itu dan mula bermusyawarah secara rahsia dengan para menterinya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leadership choices pivot on counsel: after a revered elder withdraws, the ruler turns to ministerial strategy—implying that political action, especially when secretive, carries ethical weight and can steer events toward dharma or adharma depending on intent.
After Bhīṣma leaves, Duryodhana (referred to by the patronymic Dhārtarāṣṭra) returns to the same place and begins confidential consultations with his ministers, indicating planning and decision-making in the wake of Bhīṣma’s departure.