Shloka 8
एकादशं वर्षमिदं वसाम: सुयोधनेनात्तसुखा: सुखार्हा[: त॑ वज्चयित्वाधमबुद्धिशील- मज्ञातवासं सुखमाप्नुयाम,“अब हमारे निवासका यह ग्यारहवाँ वर्ष चल रहा है। हमलोग सुख भोगनेके अधिकारी थे, परन्तु दुर्योधनने हमारा सुख छीन लिया। उसकी बुद्धि तथा स्वभाव अत्यन्त अधम है। उस दुष्टको धोखा देकर हम अपने अज्ञातवासका समय भी सुखपूर्वक बिता लेंगे
ekādaśaṁ varṣam idaṁ vasāmaḥ suyodhanenātta-sukhāḥ sukhārhāḥ | taṁ vañcayitvādhama-buddhi-śīlam ajñāta-vāsaṁ sukham āpnu-yāma ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “This is now the eleventh year that we have been living away. Though we were worthy to enjoy prosperity, Suyodhana has seized our happiness. His understanding and disposition are utterly base. By outwitting that wicked man, we shall pass even the period of living incognito in peace.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between rightful endurance of injustice and the use of strategic deception: those wronged must remain steadfast through hardship, yet may employ prudent means to protect themselves and complete their vowed term without giving the oppressor an advantage.
The speaker notes that the exiles have reached the eleventh year; although they deserved happiness, Duryodhana has taken it from them. They resolve to outwit him and complete the forthcoming period of living incognito (ajñātavāsa) peacefully.