Shloka 4
Drupada’s Instruction to the Purohita for the Kaurava Embassy (द्रुपदोपदेशः दूतप्रेषणम्)
प्रज्ञया सदृशश्वासि शुक्रेणाज्ञिरसेन च । विदितं चापि ते सर्व यथावृत्त: स कौरव:,आपकी बुद्धि शुक्राचार्य और बृहस्पतिके समान है। दुर्योधनका आचार-विचार जैसा है, वह सब भी आपको ज्ञात ही है
prajñayā sadṛśaś cāsi śukreṇāṅgiraseṇa ca | viditaṃ cāpi te sarvaṃ yathāvṛttaḥ sa kauravaḥ ||
Drupada disse: “Em sabedoria, és comparável a Śukra e ao Āṅgirasa (Bṛhaspati). E também conheces por inteiro como é de fato aquele Kaurava—Duryodhana—sua conduta e sua disposição, tal como realmente se revelaram.”
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sound political and moral judgment requires clear knowledge of a person’s true character. Duṣpada praises the listener’s discernment by likening it to the famed preceptors Śukra and Bṛhaspati, implying that ethical counsel must be grounded in accurate appraisal of Duryodhana’s established conduct.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duṣpada addresses a respected adviser, affirming that the adviser already understands Duryodhana’s real nature and behavior. The line functions as a rhetorical setup for further counsel about how to respond to the Kaurava side.