Shloka 57
समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः
Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī
कुण्डलाहरणं पर्व ततः परमिहोच्यते । आरणेयं ततः पर्व वैराटं तदनन्तरम् | पाण्डवानां प्रवेशश्व॒ समयस्य च पालनम्,इसके बाद क्रमश: कुण्डलाहरण और आरणेय-पर्व कहे गये हैं। तदनन्तर विराटपर्वका आरम्भ होता है, जिसमें पाण्डवोंके नगरप्रवेश और समयपालन-सम्बन्धीपर्व हैं
kuṇḍalāharaṇaṃ parva tataḥ param ihocyate | āraṇeyaṃ tataḥ parva vairāṭaṃ tad-anantaram | pāṇḍavānāṃ praveśaś ca samayasya ca pālanam |
Next, the section called “The Taking of the Earrings” is described; after that comes the “Āraṇeya” section, and then the “Vairāṭa” section. In the Vairāṭa narrative are told the Pāṇḍavas’ entry into the city/kingdom and their careful observance of the stipulated time—highlighting disciplined self-restraint and fidelity to pledged conditions as essential supports of dharma amid adversity.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as disciplined adherence to agreed conditions (samaya-pālana). Even when circumstances are harsh, integrity is shown by keeping one’s pledged term and acting with restraint until the proper time is fulfilled.
The speaker is enumerating upcoming sections (parvas): first the Kuṇḍalāharaṇa episode, then the Āraṇeya (forest-related) section, and thereafter the Vairāṭa section, which includes the Pāṇḍavas’ entry and their observance of the stipulated period.