Mahabharata — Sabha Parva, 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 ||
“Meus filhos, não vos abandonarei—meus amados, alcançados apenas após dificuldades e longa luta. Eu mesma irei à floresta. Ai, ó Kṛṣṇā, por que me deixas?”
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.