Shloka 3

Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं गतेषु पार्थेषु विसृष्टे च सुयोधने । आगते हास्तिनपुरं मोक्षिते पाण्डुनन्दनै:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca evaṃ gateṣu pārtheṣu visṛṣṭe ca suyodhane | āgate hāstinapuraṃ mokṣite pāṇḍunandanaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „So geschah es: Als die Söhne der Pṛthā fortgezogen waren und auch Suyodhana entlassen worden war, und als er nach Hāstinapura zurückkehrte—von den Söhnen Pāṇḍus freigegeben—(wendet sich die Erzählung dem zu, was danach geschah).“

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

एवंthus

गतेषुwhen (they) had gone / after (they) went

पार्थेषुthe Pārthas (sons of Pṛthā)

विसृष्टेwhen (he) had been dismissed / sent away

चand

सुयोधनेSuyodhana (Duryodhana)

आगतेwhen (it/one) had come / on arrival

हास्तिनपुरम्to Hāstinapura

मोक्षितेwhen (he) had been released / set free

पाण्डुनन्दनैःby the sons of Pāṇḍu

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

Suyodhana (Duryodhana)

Hāstinapura

Pāṇḍu

Pṛthā (Kuntī)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights restraint amid hostility: even in a charged rivalry, the Pāṇḍavas choose to release Suyodhana rather than act from anger. It underscores a dharmic ideal—self-control and adherence to proper conduct—while also foreshadowing how unresolved enmity can continue despite moments of forbearance.

What is happening in the narrative?

It marks a transition: the Pāṇḍavas (Pārthas) have departed, Suyodhana has been dismissed/released, and he has returned to Hāstinapura. The narration sets the stage for subsequent developments after this separation and return to the Kuru capital.