Shloka 24

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)

Devanagari script

ह॒त्वाग्निं विधिवत सर्वे प्रययुस्ते यथाक्रमम्‌ । उदड़्मुखा निरीक्षन्त उपवासपरायणा:

Transliteration

hutvā agniṁ vidhivat sarve prayayus te yathākramam | udaṅmukhā nirīkṣanta upavāsaparāyaṇāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having duly offered oblations into the sacred fire according to rule, they all set out in proper order. Observing a fast through the night, they proceeded facing north, their gaze fixed in that direction—moving forward with disciplined restraint and ritual purity.

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having killed/put out
• हत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), कर्तरि

• अग्निम्: the fire
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विधिवत्: according to rule, duly
• विधिवत्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रययुः: went forth, departed
• प्रययुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + प्र
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)

• क्रमम्: order, sequence
• क्रमम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उदङ्मुखाः: north-facing
• उदङ्मुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निरीक्षन्तः: looking, gazing
• निरीक्षन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु) + निर्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural, कर्तरि

• उपवासपरायणाः: devoted to fasting
• उपवासपरायणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवास-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Agni (sacred fire)
• Uttara-diś (the northern direction)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic discipline: before undertaking a significant departure, one completes prescribed rites (agnihotra/oblations) and practices self-restraint (fasting). The northward orientation symbolizes a deliberate, vow-bound movement toward austerity and higher aims rather than comfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

After performing the proper fire-offering, the group departs in orderly sequence. They have observed an overnight fast and proceed facing north, keeping their attention fixed ahead, indicating a solemn, regulated journey consistent with ascetic or vow-based conduct.