Shloka 49
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखैर्वरिर्श्रातृभि: परिवारिता । पाज्चाली पुण्डरीकाक्षमासीनं भ्रातृभि: सह । अभिगम्याब्रवीत् क्रुद्धा शरण्यं शरणैषिणी,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! रोषावेशसे भरे हुए राजाओंकी मण्डलीमें उस वीरसमुदायके मध्य महात्मा केशवके ऐसा कहनेपर धृष्टद्युम्म आदि भाइयोंसे घिरी और कुपित हुई पांचालराजकुमारी द्रौपदी भाइयोंके साथ बैठे हुए शरणागतवत्सल श्रीकृष्णके पास जा उनकी शरणकी इच्छा रखती हुई उनसे बोली
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhair vīraiḥ bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritā | pāñcālī puṇḍarīkākṣam āsīnaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | abhigamyābravīt kruddhā śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇaiṣiṇī |
Vaiśampāyana said: Surrounded by her heroic brothers headed by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Pāñcālī (Draupadī), burning with anger, approached Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Kṛṣṇa), who was seated together with the brothers. Seeking refuge in the one worthy of granting protection, she spoke to him—turning to dharma’s shelter when human strength and royal assemblies fail to secure justice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When wronged and overwhelmed, one should seek protection from the truly śaraṇya—an ethically reliable protector—rather than relying only on power, assemblies, or anger. The verse frames refuge (śaraṇāgati) as a dharmic response: channeling indignation into rightful appeal to a guardian of justice.
Draupadī, surrounded by her brothers led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, approaches Kṛṣṇa (called Puṇḍarīkākṣa) who is seated with them. She is angry and seeks his refuge, preparing to speak—indicating a moment where she turns to Kṛṣṇa for counsel, support, and dharmic intervention.