Shloka 12
द्रौपद्याः शोकवचनम्
Draupadī’s Lament and Indictment of Misfortune
सा लतेव महाशालं फुल्लं गोमतितीरजम् । परिष्वजत पाज्चाली मध्यमं पाण्डुनन्दनम्
sā lateva mahāśālaṁ phullaṁ gomati-tīrajam | pariṣvajata pāñcālī madhyamaṁ pāṇḍu-nandanam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Like a creeper that clings to a tall, fully blossomed śāla tree growing on the bank of the Gomati, the virtuous Pāñcālī embraced Bhīmasena, the middle-born son of Pāṇḍu. The image underscores her steadfast loyalty and the protective solidarity of the Pāṇḍavas amid the hardships of concealment and exile.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a nature-metaphor to highlight dharmic steadfastness and mutual support: Draupadī’s embrace signifies loyal companionship and the protective strength of the Pāṇḍavas during adversity, reminding that righteous bonds are sustained through solidarity, not merely through circumstance.
In the Virāṭa Parva context of concealment and hardship, Draupadī (Pāñcālī) meets and embraces Bhīma. The poet compares her to a vine clinging to a tall blossoming śāla tree by the Gomati, emphasizing intimacy, reliance, and Bhīma’s strength as a support.