Shloka 5
, ५ (१ ' १4. 8... -- उषिताश्च वने कृच्छे वयं द्वादश वत्सरान् । अज्ञातवाससमयं शेषं वर्ष त्रयोदशम्,“हमलोग कष्टदायक वनमें बारह वर्षोतक रह लिये। अब अन्तिम तेरहवाँ वर्ष हमारे अज्ञातवासका समय है
uṣitāś ca vane kṛcchre vayaṃ dvādaśa vatsarān | ajñātavāsasamayaṃ śeṣaṃ varṣa trayodaśam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “We have lived for twelve years in the forest, enduring hardship. Now the remaining thirteenth year is to be spent in concealment (incognito), as required by our vow.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to one’s pledged terms: enduring hardship without abandoning the agreed conditions of exile, and completing the final year of concealment with discipline and restraint.
The speaker states that the twelve-year forest exile has been completed, and that the final thirteenth year—required to be spent incognito (ajñātavāsa)—now remains.