द्यूत पर्व — भीष्मका वचन

Draupadi said I have a duty to perform. I have not as yet performed that great work. Forcibly dragged by this strong man (Dushasana), I am deprived of my senses.

I salute all my superiors in this assembly of the Kurus. It is not my fault if I have not done it before.

Vaishampayana said Dragged with greater force the afflicted and ascetic lady (Draupadi) who did not deserve such treatment, fell on the ground and wept in the assembly.

Draupadi said I was once seen on the occasion of my Svamavara by the assembled kings in the arena. I was never before seen (by them) any where else. I am to day been brought before the assembly.

She, who is never before seen by even the wind and the sun in her house, is seen to day in the assembly and is exposed before all men.

We have never heard before that a wedded wife is brought before an assembly. That old and eternal rule is to day destroyed by the Kurus.

She, whom the Pandavas did not suffer to be touched (even) by the wind before, is to day suffered by them to be persecuted by the wicked men.

It appears the time has became out of joint, when the Kurus suffer their daughter and daughter-in-law, who is so unworthy of such treatment, to be thus persecuted.

What could be more digressing to me than that through I am high born and chaste, yet I should be brought into the assembly. Where is the Dharma of these kings?

How is it that the chaste wife of the Pandavas, the sister of the son of Prishata, the friend of Vasudeva (Krishna), is brought before the assembly of the kings?

O Kauravas, I am the wife of Dharmaraja (Yudhisthira), born in the same order to which the king belongs. Tell me whether I am a servant woman or not. I shall cheerfully do what you would say.

O Kurus, this low man, this destroyer of the Kuru fame, is cruelly persecuting me. I cannot bear it any longer.

O kings, O Kurus, I desire you to answer whether you consider me as won or unwon. I shall do what you would say.

Bhisma said O blessed lady, I have said the course of Dharma is subtle. Even the illustrious wise men cannot understand it in the world.

What a powerful man says morality in the world is regarded as such by others, however otherwise it may really be. What a weak man says, however morality it may be, is not regarded as such.

From the importance of the issue involved, from its intricacy and subtility, I am unable to answer with certainly the question you have asked.

It is certain that as all the Kurus have become the slaves of covetousness and folly, the destruction of this our race will happen on no distant date.

O blessed one, the family into which you have been admitted as a daughter-in-law is such that there are men and women born in it, however they might be afflicted by calamities, they never deviate from the path of virtue.

O Panchali, your this conduct, namely through persecuted, you still cast your eyes on Dharma, is certainly worthy of you.

These men of mature years, learned in the precepts of morality, (namely) Drona and others, sit with down cast heads like men who are dead and whose lives have departed from their bodies.

My opinion is that Yudhisthira himself is an authority in this question. He should say whether you are won or not won.