Shloka 736
Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)
दृष्टस्ते विक्रमश्वैव पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् | राजेन्द्र! राजकुमार! जब सेनासहित तुम चीखते-चिल्लाते रहे उस समय महात्मा पाण्डवोंने जो पराक्रम कर दिखाया था वह भी तुमने प्रत्यक्ष देखा है
dṛṣṭas te vikramaś caiva pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām | rājendra! rājakumāra! yadā tvaṁ senāsahitaḥ krandasi sma tadā mahātmabhiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ kṛtaṁ parākramaṁ tvayā pratyakṣam eva dṛṣṭam |
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Tu mesmo testemunhaste o valor dos Pāṇḍavas, de grande alma. Ó senhor dos reis, ó príncipe — quando tu, com o teu exército, gritavas em alarme, viste com os próprios olhos o feito heroico que os nobres Pāṇḍavas realizaram.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to direct experience as moral and narrative proof: the listener cannot deny the Pāṇḍavas’ nobility and valor because he has personally witnessed it. Ethically, it underscores that true assessment of character should rest on observed conduct—especially courage and restraint under crisis.
Vaiśampāyana reminds a royal addressee (addressed as ‘rājendra’ and ‘rājakumāra’) that during a moment of panic amid troops, the Pāṇḍavas displayed conspicuous heroism. The statement functions as a pointed recollection meant to establish the Pāṇḍavas’ superiority and credibility in the ongoing account.