Shloka 25

अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः

The Commencement of the Great Departure

Devanagari script

आत्मना सप्तमो राजा निर्ययौ गजसाह्दयात्‌ । पौरैरनुगतो दूरं सर्वैरन्तःपुरैस्तथा

Transliteration

ātmanā saptamo rājā niryayau gajasāhdayāt | paurair anugato dūraṃ sarvair antaḥpurais tathā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Der König, als der Siebte in jenem Zug, brach persönlich aus Gajasāhvaya auf. Die Bürger folgten ihm weit, ebenso alle Frauen des inneren Palastes.

Word by Word

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सप्तमः: the seventh
• सप्तमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निर्ययौ: went out / departed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-या
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गजसाह्वयात्: from (the city) named Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura)
• गजसाह्वयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजसाह्वय
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• पौरैः: by the citizens
• पौरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अनुगतः: followed / accompanied
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दूरम्: far (for a long distance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अन्तःपुरैः: by the inner apartments / harem (people of the palace)
• अन्तःपुरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: also / likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājā (the king)
• Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura)
• paura (citizens of the city)
• antaḥpura (royal inner apartments/household)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s final act of renunciation is ethically weighty because kingship is bound to the people; even withdrawal from power occurs under the gaze of community and family, highlighting the tension between detachment (vairāgya) and relational duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

The king leaves the capital Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura) personally, and the citizens and the entire inner royal household accompany him for some distance, marking the solemn beginning of the great final departure.