Mahabharata — Mahaprasthanika Parva, Shloka 266
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
कृपप्रभृतयश्चैव युयुत्सुं पर्यवारयन् । धीरे-धीरे समस्त पुरवासी और कृपाचार्य आदि युयुत्सुको घेरकर उनके साथ ही लौट आये
kṛpaprabhṛtayaś caiva yuyutsuṃ paryavārayan | dhīre-dhīre samasta-puravāsī ca kṛpācārya-ādayaḥ yuyutsukaṃ gherakara tena sahaiva nivṛttāḥ |
कृपाचार्य आदि ने युयुत्सु को चारों ओर से घेर लिया। इस प्रकार धीरे-धीरे समस्त नगरवासी भी कृपाचार्य आदि के साथ युयुत्सु को घेरे हुए उसी के साथ लौट आए।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the post-war collapse of the Kuru world, the verse highlights ethical restraint and communal responsibility: elders and citizens do not act rashly but carefully gather around and escort the remaining righteous figure, preserving social order and protecting a dharmic survivor.
Kṛpācārya and others, along with the townspeople, encircle Yuyutsu and then return with him, indicating a controlled, collective movement—an escort or protective withdrawal—during the somber aftermath leading into the great departure (mahāprasthāna).