Shloka 71
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
नन्विमे शरणं प्राप्त न त्यजन्ति कदाचन । ते मां शरणमापन्नां नान्वपद्यन्त पाण्डवा:,ये अपनी शरणमें आनेपर कभी किसीका भी त्याग नहीं करते; किंतु इन्हीं पाण्डवोंने मुझ शरणागत अबलापर तनिक भी दया नहीं की
nanv ime śaraṇaṃ prāptā na tyajanti kadācana | te māṃ śaraṇamāpannāṃ nānvapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ ||
“Hindi ba’t ang mga lalaking ito, kapag may lumalapit upang humingi ng kanlungan, ay hindi kailanman nang-iiwan? Ngunit ang mismong mga Pāṇḍava ay hindi nagkaloob ng pag-iingat sa akin—bagaman ako’y lumapit sa kanila bilang humihingi ng silong—ni hindi man lamang nagpakita ng munting habag sa isang babaeng walang magawa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical obligation of granting refuge: one who accepts a supplicant should not abandon them. It criticizes a failure of compassion and protective duty toward a helpless person who has sought shelter.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a woman who has sought protection laments that although the Pāṇḍavas are reputed never to forsake those who come for refuge, they did not support or protect her when she approached them as a śaraṇāgata (one seeking shelter).