Shloka 19
कुन्तीनिवर्तनप्रयत्नः तथा वननिवासप्रारम्भः
Attempt to Dissuade Kuntī; Commencement of Forest Residence
योधेषु वाप्याश्रममण्डलं त॑ मुक्त्वा निविष्टेषु विमुच्य पत्रम् । स्त्रीवृद्धबाले च सुसंनिविष्टे यथा्हतस्तान् कुशलान्यपृच्छत्
yodheṣu vāpy āśrama-maṇḍalaṁ taṁ muktvā niviṣṭeṣu vimucya patram | strī-vṛddha-bāle ca su-saṁniviṣṭe yathāhatas tān kuśalāny apṛcchat |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Lorsque les guerriers eurent quitté la limite de l’enclos de l’ermitage et, s’étant arrêtés à quelque distance, eurent dételé leurs véhicules, et lorsque les femmes, les vieillards et les enfants se furent installés commodément dans le camp, le roi Dhṛtarāṣṭra rencontra les Pāṇḍava et, comme il convient, s’enquit de leur bien-être, demandant si tout allait bien pour eux.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after conflict, dharma expresses itself through restraint and civility: ensuring the vulnerable are safely settled and then exchanging proper inquiries of welfare (kuśala-praśna) as a mark of respect and social order.
The Pāṇḍavas’ forces stop outside the hermitage boundary, unyoke their conveyances, and make camp; women, elders, and children rest comfortably. Dhṛtarāṣṭra then meets the Pāṇḍavas and asks about their well-being.