Shloka 8
अङ्गददूतवाक्यं लङ्काप्राकारभेदनं च
Angada’s Embassy and the Breach of Laṅkā’s Ramparts
स प्रविश्याश्रम॑ पुण्यं सिंहगोष्ठ वको यथा,येषां कुशलकामासि ते5पि कच्चिदनामया: । उसने अपने छ: भाइयोंके साथ स्वयं सातवाँ बनकर द्रौपदीके पवित्र आश्रममें प्रवेश किया, मानो कोई भेड़िया सिंहकी माँदमें घुसा हो। वहाँ जाकर उसने द्रौपदीसे इस प्रकार कहा--“वरारोहे! तुम कुशलसे हो न? तुम्हारे पति नीरोग तो हैं न? इनके सिवा और जिन लोगोंको तुम सकुशल देखना चाहती हो, वे सभी स्वस्थ तो हैं न?
sa praviśyāśramaṁ puṇyaṁ siṁhaghoṣṭhaṁ vako yathā | yeṣāṁ kuśalakāmāsi te ’pi kaccid anāmayāḥ ||
Tendo entrado naquele eremitério sagrado—como um lobo que se insinua na toca de um leão—dirigiu-se a Draupadī com cortesia fingida: “Ó dama de belas ancas, estás bem? Teus maridos estão livres de enfermidade? E, além deles, todos aqueles que desejas ver a salvo e prósperos também gozam de saúde?”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical contrast between outwardly courteous inquiry and concealed hostility: refined speech and concern for welfare can be used as a mask, so discernment (viveka) is needed to judge intent, not merely words.
A hostile visitor enters Draupadī’s sacred hermitage with his companions, compared to a wolf entering a lion’s den, and then addresses her with seemingly polite questions about her well-being, her husbands’ health, and the safety of others dear to her.