Shloka 22
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
हंसचन्द्रप्रतीकाशां नन्दिनीं तां जहार गाम् । कशादण्डप्रणुदितां काल्यमानामितस्तत:,गन्धर्व कहता है--अर्जुन! वसिष्ठजीके यों कहनेपर विश्वामित्रने मानो बलपूर्वक ही हंस और चन्द्रमाके समान श्वेत रंगवाली उस नन्दिनी गायका अपहरण कर लिया। उसे कोड़ों और डंडोंसे मार-मारकर इधर-उधर हाँका जा रहा था
haṃsacandrapratīkāśāṃ nandinīṃ tāṃ jahāra gām | kaśādaṇḍapraṇuditāṃ kālyamānām itastataḥ ||
The Gandharva said: “O Arjuna, despite Vasiṣṭha’s words, Viśvāmitra forcibly carried off that cow Nandinī, radiant white like a swan and the moon. Driven on by whips and sticks, she was being beaten and herded this way and that.”
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical breach: using force and cruelty to seize what is not rightfully one’s own. It contrasts dharmic restraint and respect for a sage’s sacred possession with the misuse of royal power driven by desire.
A Gandharva narrates to Arjuna that Viśvāmitra, ignoring Vasiṣṭha’s counsel, abducts Vasiṣṭha’s cow Nandinī. The cow is beaten and driven about with whips and sticks as she is taken away.