Shloka 16

Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)

Devanagari script

अनिकेतो5थ राजा स बभूव वनगोचर: । ते चापि सहिते देव्यौ संजयश्न तमन्वयु:

Transliteration

aniketo ’tha rājā sa babhūva vanagocaraḥ | te cāpi sahite devyau sañjayaś ca tam anvayuḥ ||

Translation

Dann wurde jener König heimatlos, ohne festen Aufenthalt, und zog durch den Wald. Auch die beiden Königinnen folgten ihm zusammen mit Sañjaya — teilten seinen strengen Weg und wählten die Treue zur Pflicht über den Komfort des königlichen Lebens.

Word by Word

अनिकेतःhomeless, without a dwelling

अथthen, now

राजाthe king

सःhe

बभूवbecame

वनगोचरःa forest-dweller, one who moves in the forest

तेthey

चand

अपिalso

सहितेtogether, accompanied

देव्यौthe two queens/ladies

संजयःSanjaya

चand

तम्him

अन्वयुःfollowed

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

the two queens (Gāndhārī and Kuntī)

Sañjaya

forest

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma in the form of renunciation and steadfast companionship: when worldly power is relinquished, one should accept a disciplined life without attachment to comfort, and those bound by duty and love may choose to share that austere path.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that the king leaves settled habitation and lives as a forest-wanderer; the two queens accompany him, and Sañjaya also follows, forming a small retinue committed to the forest-ascetic mode of life.