Shloka 28
Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage
स तामुपादाय विजित्य रख्रे द्विजातिभिस्तैरभिपूज्यमान: । रड्भडान्निरक्रामदचिन्त्यकर्मा पत्न्या तया चाप्यनुगम्यमान:,अद्भुत कर्म करनेवाले अर्जुन इस प्रकार उस स्वयंवरसभामें (स्त्रीर॒त्न द्रौपदीको जीतकर) उसे अपने साथ ले रंगभूमिसे बाहर निकले। पत्नी द्रौपदी उनके पीछे-पीछे चल रही थी। उस समय उपस्थित ब्राह्मणोंने उनका बड़ा सत्कार किया
sa tām upādāya vijitya raṅgād dvijātibhis tair abhipūjyamānaḥ | raṅgād anirakrāmad acintyakarmā patnyā tayā cāpy anugamyamānaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Matapos siyang mapanalunan, dinala siya ni Arjuna—ang gumagawa ng mga kahanga-hangang gawa—at pinarangalan ng mga naroroon na mga “dalawang-beses na isinilang” (mga Brahmin). Lumabas siya sa arena, at si Draupadī, na ngayo’y kaniyang asawa, ay sumunod nang malapit. Tinanggap siya ng mga Brahmin na naroon nang may dakilang paggalang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory gains legitimacy through dharmic public acknowledgment: Arjuna’s prowess is accompanied by respectful conduct, and the learned (dvijātis) confer honor, showing that social and ethical validation matters alongside personal achievement.
After winning Draupadī in the contest, Arjuna takes her and exits the arena. The Brahmins present honor him, and Draupadī follows behind as his wife, marking the public transition from contest to marital association.