Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 38
द्रौपदी-भीमसेनसंवादः
Draupadī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Suffering, Kāla, and Daiva
ह्वीनिषेवो मधुरवाग्धार्मिकश्न प्रियश्न मे । स ते<रण्येषु वोढव्यो याज्ञसेनि क्षपास्वपि
vaishampāyana uvāca | hrī-niṣevaḥ madhura-vāk dhārmikaś ca priyaś ca me | sa te 'raṇyeṣu voḍhavyo yājñaseni kṣapāsv api ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Sahadeva itu pemalu dalam tingkah, manis tutur katanya, dan berpegang teguh pada dharma; dia amat kukasihi. Maka, wahai Yājñasenī, bahkan pada malam-malam di rimba, engkau hendaklah sendiri membimbing dan menyokongnya, seolah-olah memimpin dengan tangan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic character expressed through modesty and gentle speech, and it frames care for the vulnerable as a moral duty—especially in hardship (the forest at night).
The narrator reports an instruction addressed to Yājñasenī (Draupadī): because Sahadeva is dear, modest, and righteous, she should personally guide and support him during their difficult forest journey, even at night.