Shloka 13
सभा-पर्यवसान-प्रस्थानवचनम् | Counsel at the Point of Departure
जितां वाप्यजितां वापि मन्यध्वं मां यथा नृपा: । तथा प्रत्युक्तमिच्छामि तत् करिष्यामि कौरवा:
jitāṃ vāpy ajitāṃ vāpi manyadhvaṃ māṃ yathā nṛpāḥ | tathā pratyuktam icchāmi tat kariṣyāmi kauravāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó reis da linhagem dos Kuru, dizei-me claramente o que julgais: fui ganha ou não fui ganha? Quero ouvir de vossas próprias bocas uma resposta definitiva; e então agirei de acordo com ela.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A public decision affecting another person’s status must rest on clear, truthful speech and accountable judgment. The verse foregrounds ethical responsibility in the royal assembly: rulers must state plainly what they believe to be right, and actions should follow a transparent, reasoned answer rather than coercion or ambiguity.
In the Kuru court context following the dice-game dispute, a crucial question is posed to the assembled kings: whether the woman in question has been ‘won’ or ‘not won.’ The speaker demands an explicit ruling from the Kauravas and declares that subsequent action will be taken in accordance with that ruling.