Shloka 21
पुत्रका न विहास्ये व: कृच्छूलब्धान् प्रियान् सतः । साहं यास्यामि हि वनं हा कृष्णे किं जहासि माम्
putrakā na vihāsyē vaḥ kṛcchrūlabdhān priyān sataḥ | sāhaṃ yāsyāmi hi vanaṃ hā kṛṣṇe kiṃ jahāsi mām ||
“Wahai anak-anakku, aku tidak akan meninggalkan kamu—yang kukasihi, yang diperoleh hanya setelah susah payah dan perjuangan panjang. Aku sendiri akan pergi ke rimba. Aduhai, wahai Kṛṣṇā, mengapa engkau meninggalkan aku?”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds steadfast responsibility toward one’s dependents: even amid crisis, a guardian’s dharma is not to abandon those dearly gained and entrusted, while also acknowledging the pain caused when loved ones withdraw support.
In the aftermath of calamity and impending forest-exile, the speaker addresses the children with reassurance—vowing not to leave them—then turns in grief to Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), questioning why she is leaving or withdrawing from him at this moment.