Shloka 66
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
बान्धवास्त्वोपजीवन्तु सहस्राक्षमिवामरा: | कृत्वा परस्परेणैवं संविदं कृष्णपाण्डवी
bāndhavās tvopajīvantu sahasrākṣam ivāmarāḥ | kṛtvā paraspareṇaivaṃ saṃvidaṃ kṛṣṇapāṇḍavī ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Nguyện cho thân tộc của ngài được sống nhờ sự nâng đỡ của ngài, như chư thiên sống nhờ Sahasrākṣa (Indra).” Sau khi đã lập sự thỏa thuận như thế, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) và các Pāṇḍava hành xử theo điều đã hiểu ấy.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reciprocity and patronage as a social ethic: a powerful supporter sustains not only an individual but also their wider kin-network, just as Indra sustains the gods. It also subtly points to the moral ambiguity of dependence on power within political agreements.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) and the Pāṇḍavas have reached a mutual understanding/compact with others (implied by context), and the arrangement is framed as one that will allow relatives and dependents to subsist under a strong patron, likened to Indra.