Shloka 16
अध्याय २७०: प्रहस्त-वधः, धूम्राक्ष-हननं, कुम्भकर्ण-प्रबोधनम्
Chapter 270: Slaying of Prahasta; Defeat of Dhūmrākṣa; Awakening of Kumbhakarṇa
अथाब्रवीच्चारु मुखं प्रमृज्य धात्रेयिका सारथिमिन्द्रसेनम्,तब अपने सुन्दर मुखपर बहते हुए आँसुओंको (दोनों हाथोंसे) पोंछकर धात्रेयिकाने सारथि इन्द्रसेनसे कहा--“इन्द्रसेन! इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी इन पाँचों पाण्डवोंका अपमान करके जयद्रथने हठपूर्वक द्रौपदीका अपहरण किया है। देखो, उसके रथ और सैनिकोंके जानेसे जो ये नये मार्ग बन गये हैं, वे ज्यों-के-त्यों हैं, मिटे नहीं हैं तथा ये टूटे हुए वृक्ष भी अभी मुरझाये नहीं हैं
athābravīc cāru-mukhaṁ pramṛjya dhātreyikā sārathim indrasenam | indrasena! indrasaṁ parākramiṇām eṣāṁ pañcānāṁ pāṇḍavānām apamānaṁ kṛtvā jayadrathena haṭha-pūrvakaṁ draupadī apahṛtā | paśya, asya rathasya sainikānāṁ ca gamanena ye ’mī nava-mārgā jātaḥ, te yathā-tathaiva santi, na miṭitāḥ; ime ca bhagna-vṛkṣā adyāpi na mṛśyanti ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Wiping the tears that streamed over her lovely face, Dhātreyikā spoke to the charioteer Indrasena: “Indrasena! After insulting these five Pāṇḍavas, whose prowess is like Indra’s, Jayadratha has forcibly abducted Draupadī. Look—these fresh tracks made by his chariot and soldiers are still clear, not yet erased; and these broken trees have not even withered. The outrage is recent, and the path of the offender lies open before us.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adharma in two layers: insulting the righteous and forcibly abducting a protected woman. It also underscores moral urgency—wrongdoing leaves discernible traces, and dharma demands timely response to restore honor and justice.
Dhātreyikā, weeping, informs the charioteer Indrasena that Jayadratha has abducted Draupadī after insulting the five Pāṇḍavas. She points to fresh tracks and broken, unwithered trees as evidence that the abductors have only just passed and can be pursued.