Shloka 3
सीता-रावण-संवादः
Sītā–Rāvaṇa Dialogue in the Aśoka Grove
पाण्डवा मृगयाशीलाश्षरन्तस्तन्महद् वनम् | विजहुरिन्द्रप्रतिमाः कज्चित् कालमरिंदम,शत्रुदन जनमेजय! पाण्डवलोग बाघ-चीते आदि हिंसक पशुओंका शिकार किया करते थे। देवराज इन्द्रके समान वे उस महान् वनमें विचरते हुए कुछ कालतक विहार करते रहे
pāṇḍavā mṛgayāśīlāḥ śarantaḥ tan mahad vanam | vijahur indrapratimāḥ kañcit kālam arindama, śatrudana janamejaya ||
ഹേ ജനമേജയ, ശത്രുദമനാ! വേട്ടയിൽ ആസക്തരായ പാണ്ഡവർ ഇന്ദ്രസമമായ പരാക്രമത്തോടെ ആ മഹാവനത്തിൽ സഞ്ചരിച്ച് കുറേക്കാലം വിഹരിച്ചു।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the Pāṇḍavas’ forest sojourn as a kṣatriya-mode of endurance: in exile they maintain vigor and self-reliance, living by roaming and the chase. Ethically, it reflects a pragmatic wilderness context rather than ritualized violence—strength and restraint are implied by the epithets and Indra-comparison.
Vaiśampāyana tells King Janamejaya that the Pāṇḍavas, accustomed to hunting, wandered through a vast forest and spent some time there, moving about and enjoying a period of life in the wilderness, described as Indra-like in their presence and prowess.