Shloka 29
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
तैर्विसृष्टं महाबाहुं कृत्या सैवानयत् पुनः । तमेव देशं यत्रासौ तदा प्रायमुपाविशत्,दैत्योंक विदा करनेपर उसी कृत्याने महाबाहु दुर्योधनको पुनः उसी स्थानपर पहुँचा दिया, जहाँ वह पहले आमरण उपवासके लिये बैठा था
tair visṛṣṭaṃ mahābāhuṃ kṛtyā saivānayat punaḥ | tameva deśaṃ yatrāsau tadā prāyam upāviśat ||
Released by them, the sorcerous creation (kṛtyā) brought the mighty-armed one back again—returning him to that very place where he had earlier sat down, resolved upon fasting unto death.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unethical means—here, a kṛtyā (sorcerous force)—can be deployed to manipulate a person’s resolve. It cautions that vows and acts of self-discipline (like prāya, fasting unto death) can be distorted when driven by anger, rivalry, or coercion rather than dharmic intent.
A kṛtyā that had been dispatched is described as bringing the mighty-armed Duryodhana back to the very spot where he had earlier seated himself to undertake prāya—fasting unto death. The narration frames a return to the scene of his prior extreme resolve.