Shloka 23
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
प्रस्थितान् द्रौपदीषष्ठान् पुरा द्यृूतजितान् यथा । हर्षोउभवच्च सर्वेषां भ्रातृणां गमन॑ प्रति
prasthitān draupadī-ṣaṣṭhān purā dyūtajitān yathā | harṣo 'bhavac ca sarveṣāṃ bhrātṝṇāṃ gamanaṃ prati ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als sie aufbrachen—jene erlesensten Männer, die fünf Brüder mit Draupadī als der sechsten—wie sie einst nach der Niederlage im Würfelspiel in den Wald gegangen waren, so weinten auch an jenem Tag die Frauen der Stadt, als sie sie fortziehen sahen. Doch für alle Brüder wurde gerade diese Reise zur Quelle großer Freude.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts public grief with the protagonists’ inner resolve: the world mourns visible loss, while those committed to dharma can experience serenity—even joy—in renunciation and in completing life’s ordained course.
Vaiśampāyana describes the Pāṇḍavas departing with Draupadī on their final journey, likening it to their earlier departure to the forest after the dice defeat; the city’s women weep at the sight, but the brothers themselves feel great joy about the journey.