Shloka 13
सभा-पर्यवसान-प्रस्थानवचनम् | Counsel at the Point of Departure
जितां वाप्यजितां वापि मन्यध्वं मां यथा नृपा: । तथा प्रत्युक्तमिच्छामि तत् करिष्यामि कौरवा:
jitāṃ vāpy ajitāṃ vāpi manyadhvaṃ māṃ yathā nṛpāḥ | tathā pratyuktam icchāmi tat kariṣyāmi kauravāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi các vua dòng Kuru, xin hãy nói thẳng điều các ngài phán xét: ta đã bị ‘thắng’ hay chưa bị ‘thắng’? Ta muốn nghe câu trả lời dứt khoát từ chính miệng các ngài; rồi ta sẽ hành động theo đó.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A public decision affecting another person’s status must rest on clear, truthful speech and accountable judgment. The verse foregrounds ethical responsibility in the royal assembly: rulers must state plainly what they believe to be right, and actions should follow a transparent, reasoned answer rather than coercion or ambiguity.
In the Kuru court context following the dice-game dispute, a crucial question is posed to the assembled kings: whether the woman in question has been ‘won’ or ‘not won.’ The speaker demands an explicit ruling from the Kauravas and declares that subsequent action will be taken in accordance with that ruling.