Shloka 32
Uttarā-Pratigrahaṇa and Abhimanyu–Uttarā Vivāha
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 67
क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ता विदेशस्था विचेतस: । जब कौरव-दलके लोग चले गये या इधर-उधर सब दिशाओंमें भाग गये, उस समय बहुत-से कौरवसैनिक जो घने जंगलमें छिपे हुए थे, वहाँसे निकलकर डरते-डरते अर्जुनके पास आये। उनके मनमें भय समा गया था। वे भूखे-प्यासे और थके-माँदे थे। परदेशमें होनेके कारण उनके हृदयकी व्याकुलता और बढ़ गयी थी। वे उस समय केश खोले और हाथ जोड़े हुए खड़े दिखायी दिये
kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntā videśasthā vicetasaḥ | yadā kaurava-dalake lokāś calitā vā diśo diśaṃ palāyitāḥ, tadā bahavaḥ kaurava-sainikā gahana-vane guptāḥ tataḥ niṣkramya bhītā bhītā arjunam upāyayuḥ | teṣāṃ manasi bhayaṃ samāviśat | te kṣudhārtāḥ pipāsitāś ca pariśrāntāś ca āsan | videśavāsāt teṣāṃ hṛdayavyākulatā cādhikā babhūva | te tadā muktakeśā añjalibaddhahastāḥ sthitā iva dṛśyante sma ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Quando as fileiras dos Kaurava se retiraram ou se dispersaram em fuga por todas as direções, muitos soldados kaurava que se haviam escondido na floresta densa saíram e, tremendo de medo, aproximaram-se de Arjuna. O terror tomara-lhes a mente. Estavam famintos, sedentos e exaustos; e estar em terra estrangeira apenas agravava a aflição interior. Então foram vistos de pé, com os cabelos soltos e as mãos postas—sinal exterior de rendição e súplica por proteção.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, the scene highlights a dharmic moment: fear and defeat can lead to humility and seeking refuge. The soldiers’ folded hands and loosened hair symbolize surrender, inviting the victor to respond with restraint and compassion rather than cruelty.
After the Kaurava forces disperse in flight, soldiers who had been hiding in the forest emerge and approach Arjuna. They are starving, thirsty, exhausted, and mentally shaken—made more anxious by being away from their own land—and they stand before him in a posture of supplication.