Shloka 4
सीता-रावण-संवादः
Sītā–Rāvaṇa Dialogue in the Aśoka Grove
ततस्ते यौगपद्येन ययु: सर्वे चतुर्दिशम् । मृगयां पुरुषव्याप्रा ब्राह्मणार्थे परंतपा:,एक दिनकी बात है, शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले पुरुषसिंह पाँचों पाण्डव उद्दीप्त तपस्वी पुरोहित धौम्य तथा महर्षि तृणबिन्दुकी आज्ञासे द्रौपदीको अकेली ही आश्रममें रखकर ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षाके लिये हिंसक पशुओं-को मारने एक साथ चारों दिशाओंमें (अलग-अलग) चले गये
tatas te yaugapadyena yayuḥ sarve caturdiśam | mṛgayāṃ puruṣavyāprā brāhmaṇārthe parantapāḥ ||
Then, acting in concert, all of them set out at once toward the four quarters. Those heroic men, tormentors of foes, went on the hunt for the sake of the brāhmaṇas—undertaking the strenuous task of protecting them by driving off and killing dangerous beasts.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as protection of the vulnerable—here, safeguarding brāhmaṇas—through coordinated, disciplined action, even when it requires hardship and controlled violence against dangerous threats.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that the heroes depart simultaneously in different directions, going hunting specifically to protect brāhmaṇas by dealing with harmful wild animals.