Shloka 18
अरण्यवृत्ति-वैराग्योपदेशः | Forest Discipline and the Program of Non-Attachment
अपृच्छन् कस्यचिन्मार्ग प्रव्रजन्नेव केनचित् । न देशं न दिशं काज्चिद् गन्तुमिच्छन् विशेषतः,किसी भी मार्गसे चलता रहूँगा और कभी किसीसे रास्ता नहीं पूछँगा। किसी खास स्थान या दिशाकी ओर जानेकी इच्छा नहीं रखूँगा
apṛcchan kasyacin mārgaṁ pravrajann eva kenacit | na deśaṁ na diśaṁ kāñcid gantum icchan viśeṣataḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “As I set forth as a wanderer, I shall keep moving along whatever path comes, without asking anyone for directions. I will not cherish any particular destination or any specific quarter as my goal.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes vairāgya (detachment): a disciplined resolve to wander without clinging to a chosen destination, and without dependence on others for guidance—symbolizing inner steadiness and freedom from preference.
Yudhiṣṭhira states his intention to depart as a wanderer/renunciant, describing a vow-like mode of travel: he will proceed on whatever path presents itself, avoid asking directions, and refrain from aiming at any particular place or direction.