Shloka 56
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
निवेद्य शिरसा भूमौ पादौ चैवाभ्यवादयत् । ततस्तं सर्वमुत्सृूज्य वनं जिगमिषुं तदा
nivedya śirasā bhūmau pādau caivābhyavādayat | tatas taṃ sarvam utsṛjya vanaṃ jigamiṣuṃ tadā ||
Nachdem er den Kopf bis zur Erde geneigt und die Füße (der Älteren) gebührend gegrüßt hatte, warf er sodann alle weltlichen Bindungen und Vorkehrungen von sich und brach sogleich mit der Absicht auf, in den Wald zu gehen—ein Zeichen von Demut, Ehrfurcht und bewusster Hinwendung zu einem Leben der Zucht.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct through humility and reverence—bowing to elders—followed by deliberate detachment, showing that major life-transitions (like leaving for the forest) should be grounded in respect, self-restraint, and letting go of worldly entanglements.
A character (not named in this single verse) bows with his head to the ground, salutes the feet of respected elders, and then abandons his prior concerns/possessions and prepares to depart for the forest, indicating a decisive move toward an austere or withdrawn mode of life.