Shloka 71
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
नन्विमे शरणं प्राप्त न त्यजन्ति कदाचन । ते मां शरणमापन्नां नान्वपद्यन्त पाण्डवा:,ये अपनी शरणमें आनेपर कभी किसीका भी त्याग नहीं करते; किंतु इन्हीं पाण्डवोंने मुझ शरणागत अबलापर तनिक भी दया नहीं की
nanv ime śaraṇaṃ prāptā na tyajanti kadācana | te māṃ śaraṇamāpannāṃ nānvapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ ||
“Surely these men, when someone comes to them for refuge, never abandon that person. Yet those very Pāṇḍavas did not extend protection to me—though I had sought refuge with them—showing not even a little compassion for a helpless woman.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical obligation of granting refuge: one who accepts a supplicant should not abandon them. It criticizes a failure of compassion and protective duty toward a helpless person who has sought shelter.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a woman who has sought protection laments that although the Pāṇḍavas are reputed never to forsake those who come for refuge, they did not support or protect her when she approached them as a śaraṇāgata (one seeking shelter).