Shloka 13
Droṇa–Drupada Saṃvāda and Droṇa’s Reception at the Kuru Court (द्रोण-द्रुपद-संवादः; कुरुनगरप्रवेशः)
य॑ य॑ देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि । अकामो वा सकामो वा वशं ते समुपैष्यति,“तुम इस मन्त्रसे जिस-जिस देवताका आवाहन करोगी, वह निष्काम हो या सकाम, निश्चय ही तुम्हारे अधीन हो जायगा
yaṁ yaṁ devaṁ tvam etena mantreṇāvāhayīṣyasi | akāmo vā sakāmo vā vaśaṁ te samupaiṣyati ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఈ మంత్రంతో నీవు ఏ దేవతను ఆహ్వానించినా, అతడు నిష్కాముడైనా సకాముడైనా—నిశ్చయంగా నీ వశమవుతాడు।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the potency attributed to mantra-invocation: ritual speech is presented as capable of compelling divine response, raising an ethical tension—power over others (even gods) can be sought or exercised regardless of desire, and thus demands restraint and discernment.
Vaiśampāyana explains the efficacy of a particular mantra: any deity summoned through it—whether acting without desire or with desire—will inevitably submit to the invoker’s will, underscoring the extraordinary leverage the mantra grants within the story.