Shloka 2
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
वैशम्पायन उवाच अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोक॑ महात्मनि । आवसन् कृष्णया सार्धथ काम्यके भरतर्षभा:,वैशम्पायनजीने कहा--राजन! अस्त्रविद्याके लिये महात्मा अर्जुनके इन्द्रलोक जानेपर भरतकुलभूषण पाण्डव द्रौपदीके साथ काम्यकवनमें निवास करने लगे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | astrahetoḥ gate pārthe śakralokaṁ mahātmani | āvasan kṛṣṇayā sārdhaṁ kāmyake bharatarṣabhāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When the great-souled Pārtha (Arjuna) had gone to Śakra’s world in order to obtain celestial weapons, the bull-like heroes of the Bharata line—the Pāṇḍavas—dwelt in the Kāmyaka forest together with Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). The verse underscores disciplined purpose: one brother undertakes austere training for a higher duty, while the others sustain a righteous, restrained life in exile, preserving unity and resolve.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights purposeful discipline and collective steadiness: Arjuna pursues higher capability (divine weapons) for future dharmic responsibility, while the remaining Pāṇḍavas maintain unity and restraint in forest exile with Draupadī—showing that righteous ends require both personal striving and communal endurance.
Arjuna has departed to Indra’s realm (Śakraloka) to obtain astras, and during his absence the other Pāṇḍavas live in the Kāmyaka forest together with Draupadī.