Shloka 4
Droṇa–Drupada Saṃvāda and Droṇa’s Reception at the Kuru Court (द्रोण-द्रुपद-संवादः; कुरुनगरप्रवेशः)
धर्ममेवं जना: सन्त: पुराणं परिचक्षते । भर्ता भार्या राजपुत्रि धर्म्य वाधर्म्यमेव वा
dharmaṃ evaṃ janāḥ santaḥ purāṇaṃ paricakṣate | bhartā bhāryā rājaputri dharmyaṃ vā adharmyam eva vā ||
धर्ममेवं जनाः सन्तः पुराणं परिचक्षते। भर्ता भार्या राजपुत्रि धर्म्यं वाधर्म्यमेव वा॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an “ancient” social-ethical norm: the wife is expected to comply with the husband’s instruction, presented as a traditional dharma as described by the virtuous. It also highlights the tension between dharmya (righteous) and adharmya (unrighteous) commands, since the rule is stated broadly.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, introduces a normative claim about marital duty while addressing a princess. In the surrounding episode (as reflected in the provided Hindi context), this principle is used to justify a husband’s request connected with obtaining offspring.