Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 1
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
&++ 4५० () अपन आप ३- प्रमाथ तथा उन््मथन आदि मल्लयुद्धके दाँव-पेचोंके नाम हैं। इनकी व्याख्या नीलकण्ठी आदि टीकाओंमें मल्लशास्त्रके अनुसार इस प्रकार दी गयी है-- निपात्य पेषणं भूमौ प्रमाथ इति कथ्यते । यत् तूत्थायाड्रथनं तदुन्मथनमुच्यते ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vasamāneṣu pārtheṣu matsyasya nagare tadā | mahārathēṣu channēṣu māsā daśa samāyayuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: While the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas) were living in concealment in the city of the Matsya king, ten months gradually passed. During that time, Draupadī—the daughter of Yajñasena (Yājñasenī), herself worthy to be served like a queen—dwelt there in great hardship, attending upon Queen Sudeṣṇā.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most capable must practice restraint and patience: protecting a vow and the larger order of dharma can require concealment, endurance, and waiting for the right moment rather than displaying power prematurely.
The Pāṇḍavas, though great warriors, are living incognito in the Matsya king’s city during their final year of exile; the narrator notes that ten months of this concealed stay have passed.