Shloka 24
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
उत्तरेण महामेरो: शाकद्वीपेन सम्मित: । भद्राश्वः पुरुषव्यात्र दण्डेन मृदितस्त्वया
uttareṇa mahāmeroḥ śākadvīpena sammitāḥ | bhadrāśvaḥ puruṣavyāghra daṇḍena mṛditas tvayā
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Sa hilaga ng dakilang Meru ay may lupain na kasinlawak ng Śākadvīpa. Doon naroon ang Bhadrāśva, O tigre sa mga tao—isang lupain na iyong napasuko sa pamamagitan ng tungkod ng kapangyarihan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse invokes daṇḍa—royal authority and punishment—as a dharmic instrument for maintaining order. Ethical governance is implied: power is justified when used to restrain disorder and establish stability, not for personal cruelty.
Vaiśampāyana describes a cosmographic setting around Meru and names regions such as Śākadvīpa and Bhadrāśva, while addressing a heroic figure as “puruṣavyāghra,” stating that Bhadrāśva has been brought under control by that person’s exercise of authority (daṇḍa).