Shloka 163

समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः

Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī

Devanagari script

वनवासगतानां च पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्‌ | स्वर्गे प्रवृत्तिराख्याता लोमशेनार्जुनस्य वै,उन्हीं महर्षिसे पाण्डवोंको अक्षहृदय (जूएके रहस्य)-की प्राप्ति हुई। यहीं स्वर्गसे महर्षि लोमश पाण्डवोंके पास पधारे। लोमशने ही वनवासी महात्मा पाण्डवोंको यह बात बतलायी कि अर्जुन स्वर्गमें किस प्रकार अस्त्र-विद्या सीख रहे हैं

Transliteration

vanavāsagatānāṁ ca pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām | svarge pravṛttir ākhyātā lomaśenārjunasya vai ||

Translation

Le sage Lomaśa rapporta aux Pāṇḍava, aux grandes âmes alors exilées dans la forêt, le récit des activités d’Arjuna au ciel—comment il y avançait et s’y perfectionnait dans la science des armes divines. Dans l’armature du récit, ce rapport affermit la résolution des bannis : même dans l’épreuve, l’effort conforme au dharma se poursuit, et l’assistance des dieux vient à ceux qui demeurent inébranlables dans le dharma.

Word by Word

• {'vanavāsa': 'forest-dwelling

• exile in the woods', 'vanavāsagata': 'having gone to forest-exile

• living in the forest', 'pāṇḍava': 'the sons of Pāṇḍu

• the Pāṇḍava brothers', 'mahātman': 'great-souled

• noble-minded', 'svarga': 'heaven

• the celestial world (often Indra’s realm)', 'pravṛtti': 'activity

• what is going on', 'ākhyāta': 'told

• reported', 'lomaśa': 'name of the sage Lomaśa', 'arjuna': 'Arjuna, the Pāṇḍava hero', 'vai': 'indeed

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍavas
• Arjuna
• Lomaśa
• Svarga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even during exile and suffering, dharmic purpose is not suspended: the righteous continue disciplined effort, and timely guidance arrives through sages. The verse underscores perseverance and trust that virtuous striving bears fruit, sometimes through unseen (celestial) preparation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sage Lomaśa comes to the forest-dwelling Pāṇḍavas and reports Arjuna’s situation in heaven—his ongoing activities and progress there (traditionally, his acquisition of divine weapons and training). This connects the Pāṇḍavas’ present hardship with Arjuna’s strategic preparation for future challenges.