Shloka 4
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 23: Report of the Slain Sūtaputras, Royal Orders, and Sairandhrī’s Return
ददृशुस्ते ततः कृष्णां सूतपुत्रा: समागता: । अदूराच्चानवद्याड़ीं स्तम्भमालिड़य तिष्ठतीम्,इसी समय वहाँ आये हुए सूतपुत्रोंने देखा, निर्दोष अंगोंवाली द्रौपदी थोड़ी ही दूरपर एक खंभेका सहारा लिये खड़ी है
dadṛśus te tataḥ kṛṣṇāṃ sūtaputrāḥ samāgatāḥ | adūrāc cānavadyāṅgīṃ stambham āliḍya tiṣṭhatīm ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Da erblickten jene versammelten Männer aus dem Geschlecht der Sūta Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). Nicht weit entfernt stand die makellose Frau, an eine Säule gelehnt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical contrast between a blameless woman and the gaze/approach of men whose conduct is about to test social and moral boundaries; it implicitly invokes dharma regarding restraint, respect, and protection of the vulnerable.
A group of sūta-born men arrive and notice Draupadī (called Kṛṣṇā) standing nearby, leaning against a pillar—setting the stage for the ensuing confrontation and the moral stakes of how she will be treated.