Shloka 22

गन्धमादन-हिमवत्प्रयाणे युधिष्ठिर-भीमसंवादः

Yudhiṣṭhira–Bhīma Dialogue on the Gandhamādana–Himavat Ascent

Devanagari script

लोगश उवाच तपसा शकक्‍्यते गन्तुं पर्वतो गन्धमादन: । तपसा चैव कौन्तेय सर्वे योक्ष्यामहे वयम्‌,लोमशजीने कहा--कुन्तीनन्दन! गन्धमादन पर्वतपर तपस्याके बलसे ही जाया जा सकता है। हम सब लोगोंको तपःशक्तिका संचय करना होगा। महाराज! नकुल, सहदेव, भीमसेन, मैं और तुम सभी लोग तपोबलसे ही अर्जुनको देख सकेंगे

Transliteration

Lomaśa uvāca — tapasā śakyate gantum parvato gandhamādanaḥ | tapasā caiva kaunteya sarve yokṣyāmahe vayam ||

Translation

Lomaśa sprach: „O Sohn der Kuntī, der Berg Gandhamādana ist nur durch die Kraft des Tapas (Askese) zu erreichen. Darum, o Kaunteya, müssen wir alle uns darin üben und asketische Stärke ansammeln. Durch diese angesammelte Kraft werden Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhīmasena, ich und du Arjuna schauen können.“

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tapasā', 'definition': 'by austerity

• through ascetic discipline and spiritual effort (instrumental of tapas)'}, {'term': 'śakyate', 'definition': 'it is possible

• can be done'}, {'term': 'gantum', 'definition': 'to go

• to reach'}, {'term': 'parvataḥ', 'definition': 'mountain'}, {'term': 'Gandhamādanaḥ', 'definition': 'Gandhamādana (a Himalayan mountain associated with divine/ascetic realms)'}, {'term': 'Kaunteya', 'definition': 'O descendant/son of Kuntī (address to Yudhiṣṭhira or Arjuna depending on context

• here the leader present)'}, {'term': 'sarve', 'definition': 'all (of us)'}, {'term': 'yokṣyāmahe', 'definition': 'we shall yoke/discipline ourselves

• we shall apply ourselves (to the practice)'}, {'term': 'vayam', 'definition': 'we'}]

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Lomaśa
• Kaunteya
• Gandhamādana
• Arjuna
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Bhīmasena

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Access to difficult, elevated goals—especially sacred or otherworldly realms—requires tapas: disciplined effort, restraint, and inner strength. The verse frames spiritual power as something accumulated through practice and shared resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Lomaśa advises the Pāṇḍavas that reaching Gandhamādana and meeting Arjuna is not merely a physical journey; it demands ascetic preparation. He includes himself and the brothers, emphasizing collective discipline to accomplish the encounter.