Shloka 26

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

एकचक्रां ततो गत्वा पाण्डवा: संशितव्रता: । वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नास्ते5भवन्‌ ब्रह्मचारिण:,तदनन्तर कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले पाण्डव एकचक्रा नगरीमें जाकर वेदाध्ययनपरायण ब्रह्मचारी बन गये

Transliteration

ekacakrāṃ tato gatvā pāṇḍavāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | vedādhyayanasampannās te 'bhavan brahmacāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Danach gingen die Pāṇḍavas, standhaft in ihren strengen Gelübden, in die Stadt Ekacakrā. Dort lebten sie als disziplinierte Brahmacārins, dem Studium der Veden ergeben—und wählten Selbstzucht und Wissen als ethische Zuflucht, solange sie verborgen bleiben mussten.

Word by Word

• एकचक्राम्: to Ekacakrā (city)
• एकचक्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकचक्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• पाण्डवाः: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संशितव्रताः: of firm/austere vows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नाः: accomplished in Vedic study
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-अध्ययन-सम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभवन्: became/were
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Pāṇḍavāḥ (the Pāṇḍavas)
• Ekacakrā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic self-restraint: in adversity, the Pāṇḍavas adopt brahmacarya and Vedic study, showing that ethical discipline and learning can be a protective and purifying path.

What is happening in the narrative?

After earlier events, the Pāṇḍavas travel to Ekacakrā and take up the lifestyle of brahmacārins—living under vows and focusing on Vedic study—consistent with a period of low-profile, disciplined living.