Shloka 5
Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः
एतान् दोषांस्तु कौन्तेयो दृष्टवानिति मे मतिः । अतः: प्रसहा हृतवान् कन्यां धर्मेण पाण्डव:,'मेरा विश्वास है कि कुन्तीकुमारने इन सभी दोषोंकी ओर दृष्टिपात किया है; इसीलिये उन्होंने क्षत्रिय-धर्मके अनुसार बलपूर्वक कनन््याका अपहरण किया है
etān doṣāṁs tu kaunteyo dṛṣṭavān iti me matiḥ | ataḥ prasahā hṛtavān kanyāṁ dharmeṇa pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “In my judgment, the son of Kuntī had clearly perceived these faults. Therefore, acting in accordance with kṣatriya-dharma, the Pāṇḍava carried off the maiden by force.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a morally charged act—carrying off a maiden by force—as being undertaken after weighing “faults” and then justified within the norms of kṣatriya-dharma. It highlights how dharma in the epic is often contextual and role-based, with actions evaluated by social duty as well as ethical scrutiny.
Vaiśampāyana offers his interpretive judgment: the Kaunteya (a Pāṇḍava) noticed certain defects in the situation and, on that basis, forcibly took the maiden, presenting it as consistent with the warrior code and accepted martial marriage practice.