Shloka 12

Devanagari script

उपावत्तेषु पार्थेषु सर्वास्वेव वधूषु च । ययौ राजा महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रो वनं तदा

Transliteration

upāvatteṣu pārtheṣu sarvāsveva vadhūṣu ca | yayau rājā mahāprājño dhṛtarāṣṭro vanaṃ tadā ||

Translation

เมื่อเหล่าบุตรแห่งปฤถา (ปาณฑพ) และบรรดาพระสะใภ้ทั้งปวงลาลับกลับไปแล้ว พระเจ้าธฤตราษฏระผู้ทรงปรีชาญาณยิ่ง ก็เสด็จออกสู่ป่าในกาลนั้น

Word by Word

उपावत्तेषुwhen (they) had returned / after returning

पार्थेषुamong the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas)

सर्वासुin all

एवindeed / just

वधूषुamong the daughters-in-law / wives

चand

ययौwent

राजाthe king

महाप्राज्ञःvery wise

धृतराष्ट्रःDhṛtarāṣṭra

वनम्to the forest

तदाthen

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

vadhūs (daughters-in-law of the Pāṇḍavas)

King Dhṛtarāṣṭra

forest (vana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic withdrawal from worldly authority: after family matters are settled, an aged ruler turns toward renunciation and austerity, emphasizing detachment, accountability, and the pursuit of inner clarity over continued attachment to power.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the Pāṇḍavas and all their daughters-in-law have taken leave/returned from their attendance, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—described as very wise—departs for the forest, marking his transition from palace life to a forest-dwelling stage.