Shloka 8

Kuntī’s Consolation to Draupadī and Lament for the Dispossessed Pandavas (सभा पर्व, अध्याय 70)

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तु वाक्‍्यं सुमनोहरं त- दर्षश्वासीत्‌ कौरवाणां सभायाम्‌ | सर्वे चासन्‌ पार्थिवा: प्रीतिमन्तः कुरुश्रेष्ठ धार्मिकं पूजयन्त:

Transliteration

śrutvā tu vākyam sumanoharaṃ tad āśvāsīt kauravāṇāṃ sabhāyām | sarve cāsan pārthivāḥ prītimantaḥ kuruśreṣṭhaṃ dhārmikaṃ pūjayantaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：听到那番极其悦耳的言辞，王廷中的俱卢众人立刻振奋欢喜。诸侯王们也都心生喜悦，称颂难敌为俱卢之最、为持守达摩之人，遂开始礼敬他——显出在宫廷之中，公众的喝彩与“达摩”之辞，如何被用来赋予正当性与声望。

Word by Word

• {'śrutvā': 'having heard', 'tu': 'but/indeed (emphatic particle)', 'vākyam': 'speech, statement', 'sumanoharam': 'very pleasing, charming to the mind', 'tad': 'that', 'āśvāsīt': 'became comforted/encouraged

• took heart', 'kauravāṇām': 'of the Kauravas', 'sabhāyām': 'in the assembly, in the court', 'sarve': 'all', 'ca': 'and', 'āsan': 'were', 'pārthivāḥ': 'kings, rulers', 'prītimantaḥ': 'joyful, pleased', 'kuruśreṣṭham': 'the best among the Kurus', 'dhārmikam': 'righteous, aligned with dharma', 'pūjayantaḥ': 'honoring, paying respect to'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kauravas
• Sabhā (royal assembly)
• Pārthivas (kings)
• Duryodhana
• Kuru lineage

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how courtly praise and the label of “dhārmika” (righteous) can function as social and political validation. It invites reflection on the difference between genuine dharma and reputational dharma created by public acclaim.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Duryodhana speaks in a manner that pleases the assembly, the Kauravas feel encouraged and happy. The gathered kings also become pleased and begin honoring him, calling him the best of the Kurus and righteous.