Shloka 3
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
फलमूलाशनाहारा वनं गच्छाम दु:ःखिता: । वनं च दोषबहुलं बहुव्यालसरीसूपम्,तब कुन्तीपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरने उनसे कहा--“ब्राह्मणो! हमारा राज्य, लक्ष्मी और सर्वस्व जूएमें हरण कर लिया गया है। हम फल, मूल तथा अन्नके आहार-पर रहनेका निश्चय करके दुःखी होकर वनमें जा रहे हैं। वनमें बहुत-से दोष हैं। वहाँ सर्प-बिच्छू आदि असंख्य भयंकर जन्तु हैं
phalamūlāśanāhārā vanaṁ gacchāma duḥkhitāḥ | vanaṁ ca doṣabahulaṁ bahuvyālasarīsṛpam ||
“Bereft and afflicted, we are setting out for the forest, resolved to live on fruits and roots. Yet the forest is full of hardships and dangers, teeming with many fierce creatures—serpents and other crawling beings.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights endurance and disciplined simplicity in adversity: when worldly power and wealth are lost, one can still uphold dharma through restraint, acceptance of hardship, and readiness to face danger without abandoning righteous conduct.
The speakers describe their departure into exile, choosing a forest-dweller’s diet of fruits and roots. They also acknowledge the forest’s perils—its many hardships and the presence of dangerous beasts and reptiles—setting the tone for the trials of the Vana Parva.