Shloka 9
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
वयं दुर्योधन हत्वा मृथे भोक्ष्याम मेदिनीम् । सम्पूर्णा सर्वकामानामाहवे विजयैषिण:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vayaṃ duryodhanaṃ hatvā mṛdhe bhokṣyāma medinīm | sampūrṇāḥ sarvakāmānām āhave vijayaiṣiṇaḥ |
毗舍波耶那说：“‘我等求胜于战，必于阵中诛杀杜尔约陀那，然后享受大地——具足一切所愿之物。’（这正是你往昔在德瓦伊塔瓦那林中亲自勉励兄弟们的话：以胜利、合乎法的享受，以及以布施与祭祀所支撑的敬神之行，使流放之苦转为安乐；如今又为何说出相反之言，伤碎他们的心？）”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader’s words create moral and emotional obligations: promises of courage and righteous purpose should not be withdrawn lightly, especially when others have endured hardship relying on that assurance. The verse underscores steadfast resolve (dhṛti) and responsible speech in the context of dharma and kingship.
The speaker recalls an earlier moment when the king encouraged his brothers during forest hardship, declaring that they would defeat Duryodhana and then enjoy the kingdom. Now, as the mood shifts, that earlier vow is cited to question why he is discouraging them and “breaking their hearts.”