Shloka 56
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
सतं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा त्रि: शैलं चोत्तरामुख: । समेन भूमिभागेन ययौ प्रीतिपुरस्कृत:,तीन बार उस पर्वतकी परिक्रमा करके वे उत्तराभिमुख हो समतल भूमिसे प्रसन्नतापूर्वक आगे बढ़े
sataṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā triḥ śailaṁ cottarāmukhaḥ | samena bhūmibhāgena yayau prītipuraskṛtaḥ ||
Bhishma sprach: Nachdem er den Berg ehrerbietig dreimal im Rechtsgang umschritten hatte, zog er weiter, nach Norden gewandt, über ebenes Land; seine Schritte wurden von Freude und frommem Vorsatz geleitet.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct expressed through reverence: honoring a sacred place or object by pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) and proceeding with a composed, auspicious orientation (north-facing), suggesting disciplined devotion rather than haste or disregard.
A figure (referred to as ‘he’) completes three respectful circumambulations of a mountain and then continues his journey facing north, moving across level ground with a sense of joy and purposeful reverence.