Shloka 18
भीष्मद्रोणयोर्दुर्योधनं प्रति शमोपदेशः | Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Counsel of Conciliation to Duryodhana
यत्र सा बृहती श्यामा सभायां रुदती तदा । अश्रौषीत् परुषा वाचस्तन्मे दुःखतरं महत्,श्रीकृष्ण! मुझे राज्यके छिन जानेका उतना दुःख नहीं है। जुएमें हारने और पुत्रोंके वनवास होनेका भी मेरे मनमें उतना महान् दुःख नहीं है, परंतु भरी सभामें मेरी सुन्दरी युवती पुत्रवधू द्रौपदीने रोते हुए जो दुर्योधनके कटुवचन सुने थे, वही मेरे लिये महान् दुःखका कारण बन गया है
yatra sā bṛhatī śyāmā sabhāyāṃ rudatī tadā | aśrauṣīt paruṣā vācas tan me duḥkhataraṃ mahat ||
เมื่อสตรีผู้สูงสง่า ผิวคล้ำผู้นั้นร่ำไห้อยู่ในสภา นางกลับต้องได้ยินถ้อยคำอันหยาบกร้าน—โอ ศรีกฤษณะ! นั่นแหละคือความทุกข์อันใหญ่หลวงและยากจะทนที่สุดของข้า.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates moral injury above material loss: the public humiliation of a virtuous woman in a royal court is portrayed as a deeper, more consequential wrong than losing a kingdom. It underscores that adharma in the assembly—cruel speech, abuse of power, and failure to protect the vulnerable—creates a debt of justice that drives the epic toward conflict.
The speaker recalls the infamous sabhā episode: Draupadī, described as tall and dark-complexioned, weeps in the court while being subjected to harsh words. Addressing Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he states that this scene—Draupadī hearing Duryodhana’s bitter speech in a crowded assembly—causes him greater anguish than the loss at dice or the exile of his sons.