Shloka 40
रामस्य पम्पातीरगमनम्, सुग्रीवसख्यं, वालिवधः, सीतारक्षणवृत्तान्तश्च
Rāma at Pampā; alliance with Sugrīva; Vālin’s fall; Sītā’s guarded captivity
निशी्थे<भ्येत्य चाकस्मादस्मान् स छलयिष्यति । कथं च निस्तरे मास्मात् कृच्छाद् दैवोपसादितात्,पाण्डव सोचने लगे--'दुर्वासा मुनि अकस्मात् आधी रातको आकर हमें छलेंगे। दैववश प्राप्त हुए इस महान् संकटसे हमारा उद्धार कैसे होगा?” इसी चिन्तामें पड़कर वे बारंबार लंबी साँसें खींचने लगे। उनकी यह दशा देखकर भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने युधिष्ठिर आदि अन्य सब पाण्डवोंको प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन देकर कहा
niśīthe 'bhyetya cākasmād asmān sa chalayīṣyati | kathaṁ ca nistare mās māt kṛcchrād daivopasāditāt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “He will come upon us suddenly at midnight and put us to the test. How shall we escape this grievous distress that has befallen us by the force of fate?” Thus, the Pāṇḍavas, sunk in anxious thought, repeatedly heaved long sighs. Seeing their plight, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared directly before Yudhiṣṭhira and the other Pāṇḍavas and addressed them.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a dharmic duty (such as honoring a guest-sage) becomes entangled with unavoidable constraints, fear and despair arise; the episode underscores turning from panic to right counsel and divine guidance, recognizing both human responsibility and the limits imposed by daiva (fate).
The Pāṇḍavas anticipate that the sage Durvāsā will arrive unexpectedly at midnight and ‘test’ them, creating a severe crisis. Overwhelmed, they sigh in anxiety. At that moment, Kṛṣṇa manifests before them and begins to speak, initiating the resolution.