Shloka 39
Sarasvatī–Tārkṣya Saṃvāda: Agnihotra-vidhi, Dāna-phala, and Mokṣa-prasaṅga (सरस्वती–तार्क्ष्यसंवादः)
यथाप्रतिज्ञं विहतश्ष॒ काल: सर्वा: समा द्वादश निर्जनेषु । अज्ञातचर्या विधिवत् समाप्य भवद्गता: केशव पाण्डवेया:,“भगवन्! हमने अपनी प्रतिज्ञाके अनुसार बारह वर्षोका सारा समय निर्जन वनोंमें घूमकर बिता दिया है। अब अज्ञातवासकी अवधि भी विधिपूर्वक पूर्ण कर लेनेपर हम समस्त पाण्डव आपकी आज्ञाके अधीन हो जायूँगे। नाथ! आपकी भी बुद्धि सदा ऐसी ही बनी रहे। ये पाण्डव सदा सत्यके पालनमें संलग्न रहे हैं। प्रभो! दान-धर्मसे युक्त हम सभी कुन्तीपुत्र सेवक, परिजन, स्त्री, पुत्र तथा बन्धु-बान्धवोंसहित केवल आपकी ही शरणमें हैं!
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: yathā-pratijñaṃ vihataḥ kālaḥ sarvāḥ samā dvādaśa nirjaneṣu | ajñāta-caryāṃ vidhivat samāpya bhavad-gatāḥ keśava pāṇḍaveyāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “In accordance with their vow, the allotted time has been spent—twelve full years in lonely wildernesses. Having duly completed the period of living unrecognized, the sons of Pāṇḍu, O Keśava, now come to you and place themselves under your direction.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness to one’s pledge (pratijñā) and disciplined completion of prescribed duties (vidhivat) are presented as ethical strength; after fulfilling hardship and restraint, the Pāṇḍavas seek rightful guidance rather than acting from impulse.
The narration marks the completion of the Pāṇḍavas’ required period of exile—twelve years in the forest and the subsequent incognito observance—after which they approach Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) and place themselves under his counsel.