Shloka 13
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 188 — Draupadī-Vivāha Dharma-Vicāra
Debate on the Legitimacy of One Wife for Five
तान् गृहीतशरावापान् क्रुद्धानापततो बहून् द्रुपदो वीक्ष्य संत्रासाद् ब्राह्मणाउ्छरणं गत:,उन बहुत-से राजाओंको क्रोधमें भरकर धनुष लिये आते देख ट्रुपद अत्यन्त भयभीत हो ब्राह्मणोंकी शरणमें गये
tān gṛhīta-śarāvāpān kruddhān āpatato bahūn drupado vīkṣya saṃtrāsād brāhmaṇoccharaṇaṃ gataḥ
ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า “เมื่อทฺรุปทะเห็นกษัตริย์จำนวนมาก โกรธเกรี้ยวพุ่งเข้ามา โดยจับคันศรและลูกศรไว้พร้อม เขาก็ตระหนกหวาดกลัว จึงไปขอพึ่งพิงในหมู่พราหมณ์”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When anger and force dominate political action, the dharmic response is not necessarily counter-violence; seeking protection under those committed to dharma (here, the brāhmaṇas) highlights restraint, the sanctity of refuge, and the moral authority of non-combatant guardians of law and conscience.
Drupada sees many enraged kings advancing on him with weapons ready. Frightened by the imminent threat, he abandons direct confrontation and goes to the brāhmaṇas for shelter and protection.