Shloka 87
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
स्त्रीधर्मिणी वरारोहा क्षत्रधर्मरता सदा । नाभ्यगच्छत् तदा नाथं कृष्णा नाथवती सती
strīdharmiṇī varārohā kṣatradharmaratā sadā | nābhyagacchat tadā nāthaṃ kṛṣṇā nāthavatī satī |
Draupadī—teguh pada dharma seorang istri, elok rupanya, dan senantiasa berpegang pada dharma para ksatria—pada saat itu, meski memiliki pelindung, tidak menemukan seorang pun yang tampil sebagai tuan dan pembelanya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: even a virtuous person who is socially ‘protected’ can be left without effective protection when those responsible fail to act. It implicitly critiques the collapse of kṣatriya-duty (to defend the vulnerable) and underscores the ethical demand that guardianship be real, not merely nominal.
Vaiśampāyana describes Draupadī at a moment of vulnerability (she is said to be in her menstrual period). Despite having husbands/guardians, she is unable to find anyone who will stand as her immediate defender, emphasizing her abandonment in a crisis.