Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
कृतशौचांस्ततस्तांस्तु पाण्डवान् भरतर्षभान् । आदाय विविशु: सर्वे पुरं वारणसाह्नयम्
kṛtaśaucāṁs tatas tāṁs tu pāṇḍavān bharatarṣabhān | ādāya viviśuḥ sarve puraṁ vāraṇasāhvayam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah para Pāṇḍava—yang terunggul dalam keturunan Bharata—menyempurnakan upacara penyucian (śauca) yang diwajibkan dan mandi bersuci, maka semua para tua-tua membawa mereka lalu memasuki kota yang dikenali sebagai Vāraṇasāhvaya (Hastināpura).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights dharma through śauca: after a period of impurity (aśauca), one should complete purification rites before resuming communal, civic, or royal participation—linking personal discipline with social and ethical order.
After completing purification, the Pāṇḍavas are formally escorted by all concerned into the capital city, Vāraṇasāhvaya (Hastināpura), marking a return to public life and courtly setting.