Shloka 41
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
वरुणादादह्तं पूर्व मयैतत् पार्थकारणात् । गाण्डीवं धनुषां श्रेष्ठ वरुणायैव दीयताम्,“यह गाण्डीव धनुष सब प्रकारके धनुषोंमें श्रेष्ठ है। इसे पहले मैं अर्जुनके लिये ही वरुणसे माँगकर ले आया था। अब पुन: इसे वरुणको वापस कर देना चाहिये'
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
varuṇād āhṛtaṃ pūrvaṃ mayaitat pārthakāraṇāt |
gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuṣāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ varuṇāyaiva dīyatām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Formerly, for Arjuna’s sake, I had obtained this from Varuṇa. This Gāṇḍīva, the finest among bows, should now be returned to Varuṇa alone.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A sacred or powerful possession is not an absolute personal entitlement; it is held in trust for a purpose. When that purpose is fulfilled, dharma favors relinquishing it and restoring it to its rightful source, reflecting detachment and ethical closure.
As the great departure unfolds, the narrative signals the winding down of the heroes’ worldly roles. Vaiśampāyana recalls that the Gāṇḍīva was once obtained from Varuṇa specifically for Arjuna, and now it should be returned—marking the surrender of martial identity and the return of divine gifts to their divine custodians.