Shloka 12
कामीकवने द्रौपदी-दर्शनम्
Draupadī Observed at the Kāmyaka Hermitage
अहं त्वभिद्रुत: सर्वैर्गन्धर्वै: पश्यतस्तव । नाशबनुवं स्थापयितु दीर्यमाणां च वाहिनीम्,“मैं तो तुम्हारे देखते-देखते ही समस्त गन्धवोंसे पराजित होकर भाग गया था। तितर- बितर होकर भागती हुई सेनाको स्थिर न रख सका
ahaṃ tv abhidrutaḥ sarvair gandharvaiḥ paśyatas tava | nāśaknuvaṃ sthāpayituṃ dīryamāṇāṃ ca vāhinīm ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Ante tus propios ojos fui derrotado por todos aquellos Gandharvas y huí. No pude contener al ejército cuando se deshizo y se dispersó presa del pánico.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of command: a leader must protect and steady those under him, and when he fails—especially in the presence of those he serves—he must acknowledge defeat without excuses. It implicitly contrasts mere valor with the steadiness and responsibility required by kṣatriya-dharma.
The speaker reports that, in the listener’s presence, he was overwhelmed by the Gandharvas and forced to flee. As the troops began to break formation and scatter, he could not rally or stabilize the army.