Shloka 33
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
स तस्मिन् संकुले सैन्ये द्रौपदीमवतार्य ताम् प्राणप्रेप्सुरुपाधावद् वनं येन नराधम:,उस तितर-बितर हुई सेनाके बीच उस द्रौपदीको रथसे उतारकर नराधम जयद्रथ अपने प्राण बचानेके लिये वनकी ओर भागा
sa tasmin saṅkule sainye draupadīm avatārya tām prāṇaprepsur upādhāvad vanaṁ yena narādhamaḥ
In that confused and scattered army, the vile Jayadratha set Draupadī down from his chariot and, desperate to save his own life, fled toward the forest. The verse underscores the moral contrast between abducting a helpless woman and then abandoning her when danger arises—cowardice joined to adharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma is self-defeating: one who violates righteousness by abducting and humiliating another lacks true courage and integrity, and when danger comes he abandons even his own deed, revealing moral and personal weakness.
As fighting and confusion spread through the forces, Jayadratha—who had taken Draupadī—sets her down from his chariot and runs toward the forest to save himself.