Shloka 333
दमयन्त्याः व्याकुलता — स्वयंवरसंनिपातः — देवदूतयाचनम्
Damayantī’s Distress, Proclamation of the Svayaṃvara, and the Gods’ Request
प्रतिज्ञातो वने वासो राजमध्ये मया हायम् । महाबाहो! केशव! तेरहवें वर्षके बाद आप मेरे सम्पूर्ण शत्रुओंको उनके बन्धु- बान्धवोंसहित नष्ट कीजियेगा। ऐसा करके आप मेरे सत्य (वनवासके लिये की गयी प्रतिज्ञा)-की रक्षा कीजिये। मैंने राजाओंकी मण्डलीमें वनवासकी प्रतिज्ञा की है
pratijñāto vane vāso rājamadhye mayā hy ayam | mahābāho! keśava! trayodaśe varṣe gate tvam mama samastān śatrūn bandhu-bāndhava-sahitān nāśaya | evaṃ kṛtvā mama satyasya (vanavāsa-pratijñāyāḥ) rakṣāṃ kuru | mayā rājamāṇḍalye vane vāsaḥ pratijñātaḥ |
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “In the midst of the assembled kings I have indeed vowed to dwell in the forest. O mighty-armed Keśava, when the thirteenth year is completed, destroy all my enemies together with their kinsmen and allies. By doing so, safeguard my truth—my pledge of exile. For I made this vow of forest-dwelling in the royal assembly.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) as dharma: a vow publicly made must be upheld even at great cost. It also frames righteous action after the vow’s term—seeking justice only when the pledged period is complete—linking personal integrity with lawful timing and kṣatriya responsibility.
Yudhiṣṭhira reminds Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) that he vowed forest-exile before the kings. He asks Kṛṣṇa to act after the thirteenth year ends by destroying the enemies along with their supporting kin, so that Yudhiṣṭhira’s pledge and public truth are vindicated and the path to reclaiming the kingdom is opened.