Mahabharata · 1.158.31–32
॥
Devanāgarī
युधिष्ठिरं तस्य भार्या प्रपेदे शरणार्थिनी ॥
नाम्ना कुम्भीनसी नाम पतित्राणम् अभीप्सती ॥
गन्धर्व्य् उवाच
त्राहि त्वं मां महाराज पतिं चेमं विमुञ्च मे ॥
गन्धर्वीं शरणं प्राप्तां नाम्ना कुम्बीनसीं प्रभो ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tasya bhāryā prapede śaraṇārthinī ||
nāmnā kumbhīnasī nāma patitrāṇam abhīpsatī ||
gandharvy uvāca
trāhi tvaṃ māṃ mahārāja patiṃ cemaṃ vimuñca me ||
gandharvīṃ śaraṇaṃ prāptāṃ nāmnā kumbīnasīṃ prabho ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
युधिष्ठिरं तस्य भार्या प्रपेदे शरणार्थिनीyudhiṣṭhiraṃ tasya bhāryā prapede śaraṇārthinīto Yudhishthira his wife came, seeking refuge,
नाम्ना कुम्भीनसी नाम पतित्राणम् अभीप्सतीnāmnā kumbhīnasī nāma patitrāṇam abhīpsatīnamed Kumbhinasi, desiring the rescue of her husband;
त्राहि त्वं मां महाराज पतिं च इमं विमुञ्च मेtrāhi tvaṃ māṃ mahārāja patiṃ ca imaṃ vimuñca me"save me, O great king, and release this husband of mine;
गन्धर्वीं शरणं प्राप्तां नाम्ना कुम्बीनसीं प्रभोgandharvīṃ śaraṇaṃ prāptāṃ nāmnā kumbīnasīṃ prabhome, a gandharvi who has come for refuge, named Kumbhinasi, O lord";
गन्धर्व्य्gandharvyoriginal form "gandharvy", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चेमंcemaṃoriginal form "cemaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"His wife, named Kumbhinasi, came to Yudhishthira, seeking refuge, desiring the rescue of her husband." The gandharvi said: "Save me, O great king, and release this husband of mine; I, a gandharvi named Kumbhinasi, have come to you for refuge, O lord."
Version
3d9818ec1e94 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:19:51 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the wife of the defeated seeks salvation in refuge with the righteous. It is telling that she turns to Yudhishthira, the king of dharma: the defenseless, by instinct, seek refuge with one who upholds the law. Here is revealed the sanctity of refuge (sharanagati): whoever comes with a plea must be sheltered. Thus the text shows that even a recent enemy, upon taking refuge, comes under the protection of dharma; and the gandharvi's plea gives the Pandavas occasion to show mercy.