Shloka 16

Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

असतां प्रतिषेधश्व सतां च परिपालनम्‌ | एष राज्ञां परो धर्म: समरे चापलायनम्‌,राजाओंका परम धर्म तो यही है कि वे दुष्टोंको दण्ड दें, सत्पुरुषोंका पालन करें और युद्धमें कभी पीठ न दिखावें

Transliteration

asatāṁ pratiṣedhaś ca satāṁ ca paripālanam | eṣa rājñāṁ paro dharmaḥ samare cāpalāyanam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“抑制恶人，护持贤者——此乃诸王之最高职责；而在战场上不逃遁（不背敌而走），亦是他们至上的本分。”

Word by Word

• असताम्: of the wicked
• असताम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• प्रतिषेधः: restraining / prohibition
• प्रतिषेधः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिषेध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सताम्: of the good
• सताम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• परिपालनम्: protection / maintenance
• परिपालनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिपालन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• परः: highest / supreme
• परः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: duty / dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपलायनम्: not fleeing / non-retreat
• अपलायनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपलायन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājānaḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines rājadharma: a ruler must curb the wicked (through restraint and punishment), safeguard the virtuous, and show steadfast courage in war by not fleeing—upholding social order and moral responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, Vaiśampāyana reports a teaching that summarizes the king’s supreme obligations—governance through justice and protection, and valor in battle.