Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 6
स निर्ययौ गजपुराद् याजकैः परिवारित: । दृष्टवा निवृत्तमादित्यं प्रवृत्तं चोत्तरायणम्
sa niryayau gajapurād yājakaiḥ parivāritaḥ | dṛṣṭvā nivṛttam ādityaṃ pravṛttaṃ cottarāyaṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Surrounded by the officiating priests, he set out from the city of the Kurus, Hastināpura. Seeing that the Sun had turned back from the southern course and had entered the northern course (Uttarāyaṇa), he went forth—timing his action in harmony with auspicious cosmic order and ritual propriety.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights acting in alignment with dharma through attention to auspicious timing and ritual order: major undertakings are ideally begun when cosmic signs (like the Sun’s northward course) indicate a favorable, orderly season, and with proper priestly guidance.
A principal figure departs from Hastināpura (called Gajapura), accompanied by priests. He does so after observing that the Sun has shifted from the southern course (Dakṣiṇāyana) to the northern course (Uttarāyaṇa), marking an auspicious transition for commencing a significant action.