Shloka 16

द्रुपदवाक्यं

Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization

Devanagari script

नीलश्न वीरधर्मा च भूमिपालश्च वीर्यवान्‌ दुर्जयो दन्‍तवक्त्रश्न रुकमी च जनमेजय:

Transliteration

nīlaś ca vīradharmā ca bhūmipālaś ca vīryavān | durjayo dantavaktraś ca rukmī ca janamejaya ||

Translation

హే జనమేజయ! నీలుడు, వీరధర్ముడు, పరాక్రమశాలి భూమిపాలుడు, దుర్జయుడు, దంతవక్త్రుడు, మరియు రుక్మీ—ఇవీ శౌర్యప్రసిద్ధ రాజులు।

Word by Word

नीलश्वःNīlaśva (a king/warrior; lit. ‘having blue horses’)

वीरधर्माVīradharmā (one whose conduct is heroic / a hero in conduct)

चand

भूमिपालःprotector of the earth; king

चand

वीर्यवान्valorous; possessing prowess

दुर्जयःhard to conquer; invincible

दन्तवक्त्रःDantavaktra (a king/warrior; lit. ‘tusk-faced’)

चand

रुक्मीRukmī (a king/warrior; ‘golden/ornamented’)

चand

जनमेजयःJanamejaya (a king)

Speaker

दुपद उवाच

Characters & Entities

द

दुपद (Drupada)

ज

जनमेजय (Janamejaya)

न

नील (Nīla)

व

वीरधर्मा (Vīradharmā)

भ

भूमिपाल (Bhūmipāla)

द

दुर्जय (Durjaya)

द

दन्तवक्त्र (Dantavaktra)

र

रुक्मी (Rukmī)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: rulers are recognized by vīrya (valor) and vīra-dharma (steadfast warrior-duty). It implicitly frames political legitimacy around protection, courage, and readiness to uphold one’s obligations—while also warning that such power, when amassed, can intensify conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Drupada is naming notable kings/warriors to Janamejaya, presenting a roster of powerful figures. The enumeration functions as a political-military survey, indicating the scale of forces and reputations involved as events move toward confrontation.