Shloka 7
Puṣkara-Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Phala of Pilgrimage
Nārada–Yudhiṣṭhira; Pulastya–Bhīṣma Transmission
तमृते ते नरव्यात्रा: पाण्डवा जनमेजय । मुदमप्राप्तुवन्तो वै काम्यके न्यवसंस्तदा,जनमेजय! अर्जुनके बिना वे नरश्रेष्ठ पाण्डव आनन्दशून्य हो काम्यकवनमें रह रहे थे
tam ṛte te naravyāghrāḥ pāṇḍavā janamejaya | mudam aprāptuvanto vai kāmyake nyavasan tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Oh Janamejaya, aquellos hombres semejantes a tigres—los Pāṇḍavas—vivían entonces en el bosque de Kāmyaka sin alcanzar alegría, pues estaban privados de Arjuna.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and emotional dimension of companionship: even steadfast, dharma-oriented heroes experience diminished joy when separated from a crucial ally. It suggests that collective resilience depends not only on personal virtue but also on supportive bonds and shared responsibility.
Vaiśampāyana tells King Janamejaya that the Pāṇḍavas were residing in the Kāmyaka forest during exile, but they were joyless because Arjuna was not with them at that time.