Shloka 32

अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः

The Commencement of the Great Departure

Devanagari script

पृष्ठतस्तु वरारोहा श्यामा पद्मदलेक्षणा । द्रौपदी योषितां श्रेष्ठा ययौ भरतसत्तम,भरतश्रेष्ठ) इन सबके पीछे सुन्दर शरीरवाली, श्यामवर्णा, कमलदललोचना, युवतियोंमें श्रेष्ठ द्रौपदी चल रही थी

Transliteration

pṛṣṭhatas tu varārohā śyāmā padmadalekṣaṇā | draupadī yoṣitāṃ śreṣṭhā yayau bharatasattama ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：在他们身后行走的是德罗帕蒂——女子中最卓绝者——体态娴雅，肤色黝黑，双眸如莲瓣。

Word by Word

• पृष्ठतः: from behind; behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्यय), अर्थे: 'पीछे/पश्चात्'

• तु: but; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: निपात (अव्यय)

• वरारोहा: a noble/beautiful woman (lit. one of excellent ascent/figure)
• वरारोहा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरारोहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्यामा: dark-complexioned
• श्यामा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पद्मदल-ईक्षणा: lotus-petal-eyed
• पद्मदल-ईक्षणा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मदलईक्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्रौपदी: Draupadi
• द्रौपदी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योषिताम्: of women
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठा: the best; foremost
• श्रेष्ठा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ययौ: went; proceeded
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भरतसत्तम: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Draupadī
• Bharatasattama (addressee, traditionally Janamejaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and dignity in the face of life’s final transition: Draupadī, celebrated for beauty and excellence, is shown not in triumph but in disciplined following—suggesting that true worth is tested and revealed in renunciation and endurance rather than in outward status.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Mahāprasthāna (the great departure), the group proceeds onward, and Draupadī is described as walking behind the others. The narrator emphasizes her distinguishing features and her eminent status among women while situating her within the ordered movement of the journey.