Shloka 413
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
अन्योन्यं परिपप्रच्छु: पुन: स्वाध्यायकारणात् | जब बारह वर्षोंकी वह अनावृष्टि प्रायः बीत गयी, तब महर्षि पुनः स्वाध्यायके लिये एक-दूसरेसे पूछने लगे
anyonyam paripapracchuḥ punaḥ svādhyāya-kāraṇāt |
Vaiśampāyana said: When the long drought of twelve years had almost passed, the sages once again began to question one another, resuming their mutual inquiry for the sake of sacred study and the preservation of Vedic learning.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after prolonged hardship (such as a multi-year drought), dharma is sustained by returning to svādhyāya—disciplined study and recitation—through which knowledge, restraint, and right conduct are preserved and transmitted.
After a severe drought lasting twelve years has nearly ended, the sages renew their practice of svādhyāya by questioning one another, re-establishing the rhythm of learning and oral transmission.