Shloka 23
ऋतुपर्णस्य विदर्भयात्रा-निश्चयः तथा बाहुकस्य हयपरिक्षा (Ṛtuparṇa’s resolve to go to Vidarbha and Bāhuka’s examination of horses)
प्रास्थापयद् राजमाता श्रीमतीं नरवाहिना । यानेन भरतश्रेष्ठ स्वन्नपानपरिच्छदाम्,“माँ! यदि तुम मेरा कुछ भी प्रिय करना चाहती हो तो मेरे लिये शीघ्र किसी सवारीकी व्यवस्था कर दो। मैं विदर्भदेश जाना चाहती हूँ।” राजन! तब “बहुत अच्छा” कहकर दमयन्तीकी मौसीने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक अपने पुत्रकी राय लेकर सुन्दरी दमयन्तीको पालकीपर बिठाकर विदा किया। उसकी रक्षाके लिये बहुत बड़ी सेना दे दी। भरतश्रेष्ठ! राजमाताने दमयन्तीके साथ खाने-पीनेकी तथा अन्य आवश्यक सामग्रियोंकी अच्छी व्यवस्था कर दी
prāsthāpayad rājamātā śrīmatīṃ naravāhinā | yānena bharataśreṣṭha svannapānaparicchadām ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: The queen-mother, endowed with prosperity, sent her forth with a strong escort of men. O best of the Bharatas, she dispatched her in a conveyance, fully supplied with her own provisions of food and drink and the necessary equipment—thus ensuring her safety and proper care as she set out on her journey.
युदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights royal dharma expressed as responsible care: when someone must travel, especially a vulnerable person, proper protection (escort) and adequate provisions are ethical obligations of guardians and rulers.
Yudhiṣṭhira describes how the queen-mother arranges a conveyance, an escort of men, and full supplies of food, drink, and necessities to send the lady safely on her journey.