Shloka 2
Saubha-nipātana: Kṛṣṇa’s Counter to Śālva’s Māyā
Book 3, Chapter 23
आस्थाय वीरा: सहिता वनाय प्रतस्थिरे भूतपतिप्रकाशा: । हिरण्यनिष्कान् वसनानि गाश्न प्रदाय शिक्षाक्षरमन्त्रविद्धय:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यादवकुलके अधिपति भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके चले जानेपर युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, अर्जुन, नकुल, सहदेव, द्रौपदी और पुरोहित धौम्य उत्तम घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए बहुमूल्य रथोंपर बैठे। फिर भूतनाथ भगवान् शंकरके समान सुशोभित होनेवाले वे सभी वीर एक साथ दूसरे वनमें जानेके लिये उद्यत हुए। वेद-वेदांग और मन्त्रके जाननेवाले ब्राह्मणोंको सोनेकी मुद्राएँ, वस्त्र तथा गौएँ प्रदान करके उन्होंने यात्रा प्रारम्भ की
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
āsthāya vīrāḥ sahitā vanāya pratasthire bhūtapati-prakāśāḥ |
hiraṇya-niṣkān vasanāni gāś ca pradāya śikṣākṣara-mantra-vidbhyaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When their preparations were complete, the heroes set out together for the forest, radiant like Bhūtapati (Śiva). After giving gold coins, garments, and cows to the brāhmaṇas skilled in phonetics, letters, and mantra-knowledge, they began their journey—marking their departure with reverence, generosity, and dharmic propriety.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even at moments of hardship and transition, dharma is upheld through dāna (generosity) and respect for sacred learning: the heroes begin their forest journey by honoring learned brāhmaṇas with gifts, showing that ethical conduct is not suspended by adversity.
The group of heroes prepares and departs together for the forest. Before setting out, they give gold, clothing, and cows to brāhmaṇas skilled in Vedic phonetics, letters, and mantra—an auspicious, socially and religiously proper commencement of travel.