Mahabharata · 1.206.26–27
॥
Devanāgarī
तद् इदं द्रौपदीहेतोर् अन्योन्यस्य प्रवासनम् ॥
कृतं वस् तत्र धर्मार्थम् अत्र धर्मो न दुष्यति ॥
परित्राणं च कर्तव्यम् आर्तानां पृथुलोचन ॥
कृत्वा मम परित्राणं तव धर्मो न लुप्यते ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tad idaṃ draupadīhetor anyonyasya pravāsanam ||
kṛtaṃ vas tatra dharmārtham atra dharmo na duṣyati ||
paritrāṇaṃ ca kartavyam ārtānāṃ pṛthulocana ||
kṛtvā mama paritrāṇaṃ tava dharmo na lupyate ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तत् इदं द्रौपदीहेतोः अन्योन्यस्य प्रवासनम्tat idaṃ draupadīhetoḥ anyonyasya pravāsanamthus this mutual exile has been established for Draupadi's sake;
कृतं वः तत्र धर्मार्थम् अत्र धर्मः न दुष्यतिkṛtaṃ vaḥ tatra dharmārtham atra dharmaḥ na duṣyatiit was done by you for the sake of dharma; in this matter dharma is not violated;
परित्राणं च कर्तव्यम् आर्तानां पृथुलोचनparitrāṇaṃ ca kartavyam ārtānāṃ pṛthulocanaand the rescue of the afflicted must be performed, O wide-eyed one;
कृत्वा मम परित्राणं तव धर्मः न लुप्यतेkṛtvā mama paritrāṇaṃ tava dharmaḥ na lupyatehaving granted me rescue, you do not forfeit your dharma;
तद्tadoriginal form "tad", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
द्रौपदीहेतोर्draupadīhetororiginal form "draupadīhetor", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
वस्vasoriginal form "vas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
धर्मोdharmooriginal form "dharmo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
धर्मोdharmooriginal form "dharmo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Thus this mutual exile was established for the sake of Draupadi; it was done by you for the sake of dharma -- in this matter dharma is not violated; and the rescue of the afflicted must be performed, O wide-eyed one; having granted me rescue, you do not forfeit your own dharma.
Version
d171059b8930 · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:01:16 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the higher law shows itself -- to rescue one in distress. It is significant that Ulupi points out: the pact concerned Draupadi, while rescuing one who suffers is a separate, higher obligation. Compassion for the perishing is a dharma not annulled by private vows. Thus the scripture reveals the hierarchy of duty; and the protection of life is set above the letter of an agreement.