Shloka 16
मैत्रेयागमनम् — The Arrival of Maitreya and the Admonition to Duryodhana
त॑ समासाद्य वित्रस्ता कृष्णा कमललोचना । अदृष्टपूर्व संत्रासान्न्यमीलयत लोचने,उस अदृष्टपूर्व राक्षषके निकट पहुँचकर कमल-लोचना कृष्णाने भयभीत हो अपने दोनों नेत्र बंद कर लिये
taṁ samāsādya vitrastā kṛṣṇā kamalalocanā | adṛṣṭapūrva-saṁtrāsān nyamīlayata locane ||
Coming close to that being, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), the lotus-eyed one, was seized with fear; overwhelmed by a terror she had never before experienced, she shut both her eyes. The scene underscores how sudden, unfamiliar danger can shake even the steadfast, and it evokes the ethical demand upon protectors and rulers to prevent the vulnerable from being exposed to such भय (fear) and हिंसा (violence).
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the human reality of भय when confronted with unprecedented danger, and implicitly points to dharma: those with power and responsibility must ensure safety and protection so that the innocent are not forced into terror and helplessness.
Draupadī approaches a frightening presence; struck by a fear she has never known before, she instinctively closes her eyes, signaling immediate peril and vulnerability in the moment.