Shloka 29
Uttarā-Pratigrahaṇa and Abhimanyu–Uttarā Vivāha
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 67
क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ता विदेशस्था विचेतस: । जब कौरव-दलके लोग चले गये या इधर-उधर सब दिशाओंमें भाग गये, उस समय बहुत-से कौरवसैनिक जो घने जंगलमें छिपे हुए थे, वहाँसे निकलकर डरते-डरते अर्जुनके पास आये। उनके मनमें भय समा गया था। वे भूखे-प्यासे और थके-माँदे थे। परदेशमें होनेके कारण उनके हृदयकी व्याकुलता और बढ़ गयी थी। वे उस समय केश खोले और हाथ जोड़े हुए खड़े दिखायी दिये
kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntā videśasthā vicetasaḥ | yadā kaurava-dalake lokāś calitā vā diśo diśaḥ pradrutāḥ, tadā bahavaḥ kaurava-sainikā gahana-vane nigūḍhāḥ tato niṣkramya bhītā bhītā arjunam upāgaman | teṣāṃ hṛdaye bhayaṃ samāviśat | te kṣudhārtāḥ pipāsitāś ca pariśrāntāś ca āsan | videśavāsāt teṣāṃ hṛdayavyākulatā bhūyo 'vardhata | te tadā muktakeśā añjalibaddhahastāḥ sthitā dṛśyante sma ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: Ketika bala Kaurawa telah mundur dan lari tercerai-berai ke segala penjuru, banyak prajurit Kaurawa yang bersembunyi di rimba lebat keluar dan, gemetar karena takut, mendekati Arjuna lalu berdiri di hadapannya. Ketakutan mencengkeram hati mereka. Mereka lapar, haus, dan letih; dan karena berada di negeri asing, duka batin mereka makin bertambah. Saat itu mereka tampak dengan rambut terurai dan tangan terkatup di depan Arjuna—di hadapan kesatria yang dahulu mereka lawan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, human vulnerability remains: fear, hunger, and exhaustion can bring enemies to seek refuge. The scene implicitly tests the victor’s dharma—how one treats the defeated and the helpless—highlighting restraint and compassion as ethical ideals alongside martial prowess.
After the Kaurava forces disperse in panic, some soldiers who had hidden in a dense forest come out and approach Arjuna. Overcome by fear and hardship in an unfamiliar land, they stand before him with loosened hair and folded hands, signaling surrender and pleading for safety.