Shloka 10
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
विरथांश्व रथान् कृत्वा निहत्य च महागजान् | संस्तीर्य च रथैर्भूमिं ससादिभिररिंदमा:
virathānśva-rathān kṛtvā nihatya ca mahāgajān | saṃstīrya ca rathair bhūmiṃ sasādibhir ariṃdamāḥ ||
毗舍摩波耶那说：“大王啊，那些降伏仇敌的兄弟昔日曾以坚定之志说道：‘我们将在战场上诛灭杜尔约陀那，使诸车战勇士失其战车，并斩杀巨象；以战车与其驾马之队，铺天盖地，仿佛以车阵为毯，覆遍大地。其后，我们将享有全土，具足一切乐事。又当举行种种兴盛的祭祀，依礼圆满，广施布施与达克希那（祭司酬礼），专心奉事主宰，使这由林居流放而生之苦，转为安乐。’你曾在德外多林中以此言亲自振作他们；为何如今又再度摧折我们的心？”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores ethical consistency and responsibility in leadership: one who has strengthened others with vows of courage and righteous purpose should not later undermine their morale. It also links martial resolve with post-war dharmic restoration through sacrifice, generosity, and devotion.
In the Shānti Parva frame, a recollection is made of earlier days in Dvaitavana when the brothers, enduring hardships of exile, were encouraged with confident promises: they would defeat Duryodhana, devastate enemy forces, and then rule and perform great sacrifices. The speaker contrasts that earlier encouragement with the present moment, questioning why their hearts are now being broken.