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 ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—यदा कौरवसेना निवृत्ता दिक्षु च सर्वासु विद्रुता, तदा घनकानने निलीनाः बहवः कौरवयोधा भीताः कम्पमानाः पार्थमुपेत्य तस्थुः। भयग्रस्तमनसो ते क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ताः; विदेशस्थत्वाच्च हृदयव्यथा भूयसी। तदा विकीर्णकेशाः कृताञ्जलयः स्थिताः—शरणागतेर् बाह्यलक्षणं रक्षणयाचनां च सूचयन्तः।
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.