Shloka 24
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 viceṭasaḥ | yāteṣu kourava-sainyeṣu palāyiteṣu ca sarvataḥ | bahavaḥ kouravāḥ kecid gahanaṁ vanaṁ samāśritāḥ | tato vinirgatyābhītāḥ pāṇḍavaṁ (arjunaṁ) samupāyayuḥ | bhayāviṣṭamanaso bhuktapīteṣu vihīnāḥ kṣutpipāsābhibhūtāś ca pariśrāntāś ca te tadā | videśavāsād vyathitāḥ keśān visṛjya kṛtāñjalayo 'tiṣṭhan |
क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ता विदेशस्था विचेतसः । यदा कौरवसेना निवृत्ता वा सर्वतो दिशः पलायिता, तदा घनकानने निलीनाः बहवः कौरवसैनिकाः भयकम्पिताः निर्गत्य अर्जुनस्य समीपम् अभ्यागच्छन्। तेषां हृदये भयम् आविवेश। ते क्षुत्पिपासाभ्यां परिश्रान्ताः, परदेशस्थत्वात् चित्तविक्षिप्ताः। तदा ते विकीर्णकेशाः कृताञ्जलयः शरणागतभावेन तस्य पुरतः स्थिताः।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic test that follows victory: when former aggressors become helpless and seek refuge, the righteous response is measured restraint and humane conduct rather than cruelty. Fear and defeat can strip away arrogance, making compassion and protection central ethical concerns.
After the Kaurava forces have dispersed or fled, some soldiers who had been hiding in a dense forest emerge. Hungry, thirsty, exhausted, and distressed in a foreign place, they approach Arjuna in fear, standing with loosened hair and folded hands—classic signs of supplication—seeking safety.