Shloka 4
अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal
वनवासे च कौरव्य: कियन्तं कालमच्युत: । युधिष्ठिरो नरपति्यवसत् सजनस्तदा,अपनी मर्यादासे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले कुरुवंशी राजा युधिष्ठिर कितने दिनोंतक सब लोगोंके साथ वनमें रहे थे?
vanavāse ca kauravyaḥ kiyantaṁ kālam acyutaḥ | yudhiṣṭhiro narapatir avasat sa-janās tadā ||
阇那美阇耶问道：“库鲁族的后裔啊，请告诉我——那时坚战王守正不移、从不逾越正当分际，他与其众人同居林中，历时几何？”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical kingship as steadfastness—Yudhiṣṭhira is remembered as one who does not deviate from maryādā (proper limits and conduct). Even when discussing duration of exile, the emphasis is on dharma-centered character and responsibility toward one’s people.
Janamejaya, continuing his inquiry into the later life of the Pāṇḍavas, asks the narrator (addressed as ‘Kauravya’) how long King Yudhiṣṭhira lived in the forest, and notes that he stayed there along with his followers.