Shloka 26
वनप्रस्थानम् (Departure for the Forest) — Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 24
लतावतानावनतः: स पाण्डवै- महाद्रुम: पठचभिरेव धन्विभि: । बभौ निवासोपगतैर्महात्मभि- महागिरिवारिणयूथपैरिव,जैसे महान् पर्वत यूथपति गजराजोंसे सुशोभित होता है, उसी प्रकार, लतासमूहसे झुका हुआ वह महान् वृक्ष वहाँ निवासके लिये आये हुए पाँच धनुर्धर महात्मा पाण्डवोंद्वारा शोभा पाने लगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
latāvatānāvanataḥ sa pāṇḍavaiḥ mahādrumaḥ pañcabhir eva dhanvibhiḥ |
babhau nivāsopagatair mahātmabhiḥ mahāgirivāraṇayūthapair iva ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Jener große Baum, von dichten Rankenmassen tief herabgebogen, gewann an Glanz, als die Pāṇḍavas—fünf großherzige Bogenschützen, die gekommen waren, dort zu wohnen—unter ihm Zuflucht nahmen; wie ein mächtiger Berg erstrahlt, wenn ihn Herden herrlicher Elefanten zieren.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the presence of noble, disciplined persons brings dignity and auspiciousness to a place. Ethical excellence (mahātmatva) is portrayed as beautifying and elevating one’s surroundings, even in hardship such as forest exile.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ forest life, they arrive at a place to stay. A great tree, weighed down by creepers, is described as becoming especially splendid because the five bow-bearing Pāṇḍavas take up residence there—likened to a mountain adorned by majestic elephant herd-leaders.