Shloka 12

कुन्त्याः वनगमननिश्चयः — Kuntī’s Resolve to Depart for the Forest

Devanagari script

द्रौपदीप्रमुखाश्नापि स्त्रीसंघा: शिबिकायुता: । स्त्र्यध्यक्षगुप्ता: प्रययुर्विसृजन्तो5मितं वसु

Transliteration

draupradīpramukhāś cāpi strīsaṅghāḥ śibikāyutāḥ | stryadhyakṣaguptāḥ prayayur visṛjanto 'mitaṃ vasu ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Draupadī et les autres femmes, formant une compagnie et pourvues de palanquins, se mirent en route sous la protection de leurs suivantes. Chemin faisant, elles distribuèrent d’abondantes richesses — geste digne de leur rang et reflet du devoir coutumier de générosité au moment du départ et du passage.

Word by Word

द्रौपदीप्रमुखाःwith Draupadī as the foremost (women)

अपिalso

स्त्रीसंघाःgroups of women

शिबिकायुताःprovided with palanquins

स्त्र्यध्यक्षगुप्ताःguarded by female superintendents

प्रययुःthey went forth / departed

विसृजन्तःleaving behind / abandoning

अमितम्immeasurable, vast

वसुwealth, treasure

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

द

द्रौपदी (Draupadī)

स

स्त्रीसंघाः (company of women)

श

शिबिका (palanquins)

स

स्त्र्यध्यक्ष (female attendants/overseers)

व

वसु (wealth)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct in transition: maintaining propriety and safety (women traveling with attendants and protection) and practicing dāna—generous giving—especially at moments of departure, which reinforces social responsibility and detachment from wealth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Draupadī and the other women depart as a group, traveling in palanquins under the supervision and protection of female attendants, while distributing abundant wealth along the way.