Shloka 21
सुभद्राहरणम्
Subhadrā-haraṇa: Arjuna’s Taking of Subhadrā and the Dvārakā Assembly’s Response
एवं विनिश्चित्य ततः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजय: । अनुप्रविश्य राजानमापृच्छय च विशाम्पते
evaṁ viniścitya tataḥ kuntīputro dhanaṁjayaḥ | anupraviśya rājānam āpṛcchya ca viśāmpate ||
Nachdem er so zu einem festen Entschluss gelangt war, trat Dhanañjaya—Kuntīs Sohn—daraufhin in die Gegenwart des Königs und nahm, o Herr der Menschen, ehrerbietig Abschied von ihm.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in action: one should decide after due consideration (viniścitya) and then proceed with propriety—approaching authority openly and taking leave respectfully (āpṛcchya), rather than acting impulsively or covertly.
After arriving at a settled conclusion, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), identified as Kuntī’s son, goes into the king’s presence and formally requests permission—signaling a transition to the next step in the episode while maintaining courtly decorum.