Shloka 10
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराज: स वासुदेवस्य धीमत: । मातुलस्य च वृद्धस्य रामादीनां तथैव च
ity uktvā dharmarājaḥ sa vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ | mātulasya ca vṛddhasya rāmādīnāṃ tathaiva ca
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Nachdem er so geredet hatte, wandte sich Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) an den weisen Vāsudeva, ebenso an seinen betagten Onkel mütterlicherseits, und gleichermaßen an Rāma und die anderen—er kehrte sich den Ältesten und ehrwürdigen Verwandten mit gebührender Achtung zu, da er sich anschickte, gemäß dem Dharma zu handeln.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dhārmic conduct through deference to wisdom and seniority: before undertaking a decisive course, Dharmarāja turns to revered figures—Vāsudeva and elders—signaling that ethical action is grounded in respectful consultation and honoring those worthy of regard.
After making a preceding statement, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) now directs his attention to Vāsudeva, his aged maternal uncle, and to Rāma and others—indicating he is addressing or taking leave of key elders and kin at the outset of the Mahāprasthāna (the great departure).