Shloka 1
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
हि >> आय न [हुक है 7-2 (नलोपाख्यानपर्व) द्विपञ्चाशत्तमो<5 ध्याय: भीमसेन-युधिष्ठटिर-संवाद, बृहदश्चका आगमन तथा युधिष्ठिरके पूछनेपर बृहदश्चवके द्वारा नलोपाख्यानकी प्रस्तावना जनमेजय उवाच अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोक॑ महात्मनि । युधिष्ठिरप्रभूतय: किमकुर्वत पाण्डवा:,जनमेजयने पूछा--ब्रह्मन! अस्त्रविद्याकी प्राप्तिके लिये महात्मा अर्जुनके इन्द्रलोक चले जानेपर युधिष्ठिर आदि पाण्डवोंने क्या किया?
Janamejaya uvāca |
Astrāhetor gate Pārthe Śakralokaṁ mahātmani |
Yudhiṣṭhiraprabhūtayaḥ kim akurvata Pāṇḍavāḥ ||
Janamejaya said: “O brāhmaṇa, when the great-souled Pārtha (Arjuna) had gone to Śakra’s world in order to obtain celestial weapons, what did the Pāṇḍavas—led by Yudhiṣṭhira—do?”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights responsible preparation guided by dharma: Arjuna seeks divine means (astrāṇi) for a righteous objective, while the rest—led by Yudhiṣṭhira—must sustain order and conduct during his absence. It frames power (weapons) as something pursued for a purpose and under ethical leadership.
Janamejaya asks Vaiśaṁpāyana what the Pāṇḍavas did after Arjuna went to Indra’s realm to acquire celestial weapons. This question sets up the next narration in the Vana Parva context, leading into the events and teachings that follow (including the framing toward the Nala episode in this section).