अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
उदीची पुनरावृत्य ययुर्भरतसत्तमा: | प्रादक्षिण्यं चिकीर्षन्त: पृथिव्या योगधर्मिण:
udīcīṃ punarāvṛtya yayur bharatasattamāḥ | prādakṣiṇyaṃ cikīrṣantaḥ pṛthivyā yogadharmiṇaḥ ||
Volviéndose de nuevo hacia el norte, los más eminentes de los Bhāratas prosiguieron su marcha. Firmes en la disciplina del yoga, deseaban consumar la pradakṣiṇā: circunvalar la tierra en el giro auspicioso, hacia la derecha, como acto de reverencia y dominio de sí en su postrer camino.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined detachment: even at the end of life, the Pāṇḍavas act with reverence and restraint, framing their movement as prādakṣiṇā—an ethical, devotional orientation rather than worldly conquest.
On their great departure, the Pāṇḍavas turn again toward the north and continue traveling, intending to complete a clockwise circumambulation of the earth while remaining established in yogic discipline.