Shloka 29
Raivataka-giri Mahotsava and the Counsel on Subhadrā’s Marriage (रैवतके महोत्सवः — सुभद्राविवाहोपायविचारः)
(एकैकस्य गृहे कृष्णा वसेद् वर्षमकल्मषा ।) द्रौपद्या न: सहासीनानन्योन्यं योडभिदर्शयेत् स नो द्वादश वर्षाणि ब्रह्मचारी वने वसेत्,“हममेंसे प्रत्येकके घरमें पापरहित द्रौपदी एक-एक वर्ष निवास करे। द्रौपदीके साथ एकान्तमें बैठे हुए हममेंसे एक भाईको यदि दूसरा देख ले, तो वह बारह वर्षोंतक ब्रह्मचर्यपूर्वक वनमें निवास करे”
ekaikasya gṛhe kṛṣṇā vased varṣam akalmaṣā | draupadyā naḥ sahāsīnān anyonyaṃ yo ’bhidarśayet sa no dvādaśa varṣāṇi brahmacārī vane vaset ||
“Let the blameless Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) dwell for one year in the house of each of us in turn. And if, while one of us is seated in privacy with Draupadī, another brother should see them, then that one must live in the forest for twelve years, observing the vow of brahmacarya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a household rule grounded in dharma: orderly rotation, respect for privacy, and a strict penalty to prevent jealousy and conflict. The emphasis is on self-restraint (brahmacarya) and safeguarding fraternal unity through clear boundaries.
A rule is being stated for the Pāṇḍava brothers regarding Draupadī’s residence: she will live one year with each brother in turn. If any brother intrudes by seeing another brother privately seated with her, he must undertake a twelve-year forest exile observing brahmacarya.