Shloka 21
Kalmāṣapāda’s Encounter with Śakti and the Escalation of the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra Feud (कल्माषपाद–शक्ति प्रसङ्गः)
पार्षतो द्रुपदो नामच्छत्रवत्यां नरेश्वर: । तस्मादाकृष्य तद् राज्यं मम शीघ्र प्रदीयताम्,“अहिच्छत्रा नगरीमें पृषतके पुत्र राजा ट्रपद रहते हैं। उनसे उनका राज्य छीनकर शीतघ्र मुझे अर्पित कर दो'
pārṣato drupado nāma cchatravatyāṁ nareśvaraḥ | tasmād ākṛṣya tad rājyaṁ mama śīghraṁ pradīyatām ||
Vị Bà-la-môn nói: “Ở Chatravatī có một vị vua tên Drupada, con của Pṛṣata. Hãy đoạt lấy vương quốc của ông ta và lập tức dâng nộp cho ta.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse spotlights the ethical tension between desire/claim and dharma: a demand to seize another ruler’s kingdom and transfer it immediately invites scrutiny of legitimate authority, just means, and whether force can ever be morally justified for personal ends.
A Brahmin identifies Drupada—Pṛṣata’s son—as the king in Chatravatī and issues an urgent instruction: take Drupada’s kingdom by force and deliver it to the speaker, setting up a conflict over sovereignty and rightful possession.