Shloka 15
द्रौपदीश्रमः तथा घटोत्कचस्मरणम्
Draupadī’s Exhaustion and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
धर्मराजश्न धौम्यश्न निलिल्याते महावने । अग्निहोत्राण्युपादाय सहदेवस्तु पर्वते,धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर और पुरोहित धौम्य अग्निहोत्रकी सामग्री लिये उस महान् वनमें कहीं जा छिपे। सहदेव पर्वतपर ही (कहीं सुरक्षित स्थानमें) छिप गये
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — dharmarājaś ca dhaumyaś ca nililyāte mahāvane | agnihotrāṇy upādāya sahadevas tu parvate ||
Vaiśampāyana said: King Yudhiṣṭhira, the Dharmarāja, and the family priest Dhaumya, taking the requisites for the agnihotra, hid themselves somewhere in that vast forest; Sahadeva, for his part, concealed himself on the mountain in a secure spot. The scene shows prudent restraint and the safeguarding of sacred duty even amid danger.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even under threat, one should preserve dharma: the agnihotra symbolizes continuity of sacred obligation, while concealment reflects wise restraint—protecting life and duty without abandoning righteousness.
Yudhiṣṭhira and the priest Dhaumya, carrying agnihotra requisites, hide in the great forest, while Sahadeva hides separately on a mountain, indicating a coordinated effort to remain safe and maintain ritual practice.