Shloka 24
द्रौपदी-वरण-प्रत्ययः — Intelligence Reports and the Kaurava Court’s Response
न तत्र वर्णेषु कृता विवक्षा न चापि शीले न कुले न गोत्रे ।। कृतेन सज्येन हि कार्मुकेण विद्धेन लक्ष्येण हि सा विसृष्टा,*राजाने वहाँ वर्ण, शील, कुल और गोत्रके विषयमें कोई अभिप्राय नहीं व्यक्त किया था। धनुषपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाकर लक्ष्यवेध कर देनेपर ही कन््यादानकी घोषणा की थी। इस महात्मा वीरने उसी घोषणाके अनुसार राजाओंकी मण्डलीमें राजकुमारी कृष्णापर विजय पायी है। ऐसी दशामें सोमकवंशी राजा द्रुपदको अब सुखका अभाव करनेवाला संताप नहीं करना चाहिये
na tatra varṇeṣu kṛtā vivakṣā na cāpi śīle na kule na gotre | kṛtena sajyena hi kārmukeṇa viddhena lakṣyeṇa hi sā visṛṣṭā ||
Disse Dṛṣṭadyumna: “Naquela proclamação não se declarou preferência alguma quanto à varṇa, ao caráter, à linhagem familiar ou ao clã. A condição era apenas esta: quem encordoasse o arco e atingisse o alvo, receberia a donzela. Portanto, este herói de grande alma, conforme ao próprio anúncio, venceu a princesa Kṛṣṇā no meio da assembleia de reis. Sendo assim, o rei Drupada, da linhagem Somaka, não deve entregar-se a um pesar que só destrói a sua própria felicidade.”
धृष्टह्ुम्न उवाच
Educational Q&A
A public vow or proclamation should be honored as stated: when the criterion is skill and fulfillment of the announced condition, later objections based on varṇa, lineage, or clan are ethically improper. The verse also counsels restraint from grief that undermines one’s well-being when dharma has been followed.
After the svayaṃvara contest, Dhṛṣṭadyumna defends the legitimacy of Kṛṣṇā’s marriage outcome: the rule was to string the bow and hit the target, not to judge contestants by birth or pedigree. Since the condition was met, the maiden is rightfully bestowed, and Drupada should not lament.