Shloka 3
Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)
समाक्षतस्रो5भिगता: शिवेन चरतां वने । कृतोद्देश: स बीभत्सु: पजचमीमभित: समाम्,“हमलोगोंको कुशलपूर्वक वनमें विचरते हुए चार वर्ष हो गये। अर्जुनने यह संकेत किया था कि मैं पाँचवें वर्षमें लौट आऊँगा
samākṣatasro 'bhigatāḥ śivena caratāṃ vane | kṛtoddeśaḥ sa bībhatsuḥ pañcamīm abhitaḥ samām |
「我らは森を安らかに巡り、すでに四年が過ぎた。ビーバツ（アルジュナ）は明確なしるしと約定を定め、第五年の頃に帰還すると示していた。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores steadiness in keeping agreed terms during hardship: even in exile, one should maintain clarity of intention (uddeśa) and fidelity to a promised time, while valuing auspicious conduct and safety (śiva) rather than reckless action.
The narrator marks the passage of time in the Pandavas’ forest life: four years have safely elapsed, and Arjuna—called Bībhatsu—had earlier set a sign/appointment indicating his return would be around the fifth year.