Shloka 16

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ

Devanagari script

यदिदं द्रौपदीवाक्यमुक्तवत्यसकृच्छुभा । विमृश्य कस्य कः पक्ष: पार्थिवा वदतोत्तरम्‌

Transliteration

yad idaṃ draupadīvākyam uktavaty asakṛc chubhā | vimṛśya kasya kaḥ pakṣaḥ pārthivā vadatottaram, rājāo! |

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说道：“请诸王细细思量吉祥的德罗帕蒂所说之言——她一再重复的那些话。然后，诸位国王，请作答，使此事中你们各自所持立场昭然可见。”

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• द्रौपदी-वाक्यम्: Draupadi's statement
• द्रौपदी-वाक्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदी-वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उक्तवती: having said / said
• उक्तवती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, क्तवतु (past active participle, feminine form)

• असकृत्: repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत्

• शुभा: auspicious (lady)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विमृश्य: having considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• कस्य: of whom
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कः: what / which
• कः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पक्षः: side; standpoint
• पक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थिवाः: O kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Plural

• वदत: speaking; (you) speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)

• उत्तरम्: answer
• उत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Draupadī
• kings (pārthivāḥ/rājāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes responsible judgment: before taking sides, the assembled rulers must deliberate on Draupadī’s repeated ethical-legal question and then state their positions openly, making accountability and clarity in dharma-discourse central.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly after Draupadī has repeatedly posed her challenge, Vaiśampāyana narrates that the kings are urged to reflect on her words and respond, so it becomes evident who supports which interpretation in the dispute.