Shloka 25
Uttarā-Pratigrahaṇa and Abhimanyu–Uttarā Vivāha
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 67
क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ता विदेशस्था विचेतस: । जब कौरव-दलके लोग चले गये या इधर-उधर सब दिशाओंमें भाग गये, उस समय बहुत-से कौरवसैनिक जो घने जंगलमें छिपे हुए थे, वहाँसे निकलकर डरते-डरते अर्जुनके पास आये। उनके मनमें भय समा गया था। वे भूखे-प्यासे और थके-माँदे थे। परदेशमें होनेके कारण उनके हृदयकी व्याकुलता और बढ़ गयी थी। वे उस समय केश खोले और हाथ जोड़े हुए खड़े दिखायी दिये
kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntā videśasthā viceṭasaḥ | yadā kaurava-dalake lokāś calitā vā diśo diśaṃ pradhāvitāḥ, tadā bahavaḥ kaurava-sainikā gahana-vane nigūḍhāḥ tato niṣkramya bhītā bhītā arjunam upāgaman | teṣāṃ hṛdaye bhayaṃ samāviśat | te kṣudhārditāḥ pipāsitāś ca pariśrāntāś ca | videśavāsāt teṣāṃ hṛdayavyākulatā cādhikatarā babhūva | te tadā muktakeśāḥ kṛtāñjalayaḥ sthitā dṛśyante |
Vaiśampāyana said: When the Kaurava host had withdrawn or scattered in flight in every direction, many Kaurava soldiers who had been hiding in the dense forest came out and, trembling with fear, approached Arjuna. Terror had seized their hearts. They were hungry, thirsty, and exhausted; and being in a foreign land only deepened their inner distress. At that moment they stood before him with loosened hair and folded hands—an image of surrender and helplessness amid the collapse of warlike pride.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly pride and aggression collapse into vulnerability when circumstances turn. Hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and being in an unfamiliar place strip away bravado, leading even enemies to seek refuge with folded hands—inviting a dharmic response grounded in restraint and compassion rather than vengeance.
After the Kaurava forces scatter and retreat, some soldiers who had been hiding in a dense forest emerge. Overcome by fear and hardship, they approach Arjuna in a posture of supplication—hair loosened and hands joined—signaling surrender and pleading for safety.