Shloka 45
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
भरतश्रेष्ठ) तदनन्तर वे लवणसमुद्रके उत्तर तटपर होते हुए दक्षिण-पश्चिमदिशाकी ओर अग्रसर होने लगे ।। ततः पुनः समावृत्ता: पश्चिमां दिशमेव ते । ददृशुर्द्धारकां चापि सागरेण परिप्लुताम्,इसके बाद वे केवल पश्चिम दिशाकी ओर मुड़ गये। आगे जाकर उन्होंने समुद्रमें डुबी हुई द्वारकापुरीको देखा। फिर योगधर्ममें स्थित हुए भरतभूषण पाण्डवोंने वहाँसे लौटकर पृथ्वीकी परिक्रमा पूरी करनेकी इच्छासे उत्तर दिशाकी ओर यात्रा की
tataḥ punaḥ samāvṛttāḥ paścimāṃ diśam eva te | dadṛśur dhārakāṃ cāpi sāgareṇa pariplutām ||
Then, turning back once more, they proceeded only toward the western quarter. There they beheld Dvārakā as well—submerged by the sea.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical-spiritual realism central to the Mahābhārata: worldly greatness is transient. Seeing Dvārakā submerged reinforces vairāgya (dispassion) and steadiness in dharma—one should not cling to power, cities, or past glory, but proceed with disciplined purpose toward the final good.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ great departure (mahāprasthāna), they change course and move westward, where they witness Dvārakā inundated by the ocean. This sight becomes a narrative marker of the end of Kṛṣṇa’s era and strengthens their resolve to continue their concluding pilgrimage.