Shloka 15
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
प्रेषयामास सत्कृत्य दूत॑ ब्रह्म॒विदां वरम् । काम्पिल्य नगरके निकट पहुँचकर दशार्णराजने वेद-वेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ एक ब्राह्मणको सत्कारपूर्वक दूत बनाकर भेजा || १४ इ || ब्रूहि मद्गबचनाद् दूत पाञ्चाल्यं तं नृपाधमम्
preṣayāmāsa satkṛtya dūtaṁ brahmavidāṁ varam | brūhi madvacanād dūta pāñcālyaṁ taṁ nṛpādhamam ||
Bhīṣma disse: Tendo-o honrado como convinha, enviou como emissário um brāhmaṇa excelente, o primeiro entre os conhecedores do Veda. «Ó mensageiro, fala—por minha autoridade—àquele rei de Pāñcāla, o mais vil entre os soberanos.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts outward propriety with inward hostility: an envoy is honoured as a learned Brāhmaṇa, yet the message is a harsh moral challenge. It highlights how pride and rivalry in royal marriage politics can be framed as ethical fault and used to justify escalating conflict.
Bhīṣma arranges a formal diplomatic mission. He respectfully appoints a highly learned Brāhmaṇa as messenger and instructs him to deliver Bhīṣma’s words to the Pāñcāla king, using deliberately contemptuous language to rebuke him over a prior marriage-related affront.