Shloka 27
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुकक््त्वा परिष्वज्य दैत्यास्तं राजकुञ्जरम् । समाश्चास्य च दुर्धर्ष पुत्रवद् दानवर्षभा:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! दुर्धर्ष वीर नृपशिरोमणि दुर्योधनसे ऐसा कहकर दैत्यों तथा दानवेश्वरोंने उसे पुत्रकी भाँति हृदयसे लगाया और आश्वासन देकर उसकी बुद्धिको स्थिर किया। भारत! तत्पश्चात् प्रिय वचन बोलकर उन्होंने दुर्योधनको जानेके लिये आज्ञा देते हुए कहा--'अब आप जाइये और शशत्रुओंपर विजय प्राप्त कीजिये"
vaiśampāyana uvāca | evam uktvā pariṣvajya daityās taṃ rāja-kuñjaram | samāśvāsya ca durdharṣaṃ putravad dānava-vṛṣabhāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Tendo falado assim, os Daityas abraçaram aquele “elefante entre os reis” (Duryodhana). Esses Dānavas, fortes como touros, reconfortaram o príncipe formidável como se fosse seu próprio filho, firmando-lhe a resolução. Depois, com palavras agradáveis, deram-lhe licença para partir, instando-o a avançar e conquistar a vitória sobre os inimigos.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral ambiguity of encouragement: affection and reassurance can strengthen resolve, but when directed toward enmity and conquest it can propel one further from restraint and dharma, accelerating the path to destructive conflict.
After speaking to Duryodhana, the Daityas/Danavas embrace him, comfort him like a son, stabilize his determination, and then give him leave to depart with the exhortation to go and secure victory over his enemies.