Shloka 6
स निर्ययौ गजपुराद् याजकैः परिवारित: । दृष्टवा निवृत्तमादित्यं प्रवृत्तं चोत्तरायणम्
sa niryayau gajapurād yājakaiḥ parivāritaḥ | dṛṣṭvā nivṛttam ādityaṃ pravṛttaṃ cottarāyaṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Entouré des prêtres officiants, il quitta la cité des Kuru (Hastināpura). Voyant que le Soleil s’était détourné de sa course méridionale et était entré dans la course septentrionale (Uttarāyaṇa), il se mit en route—accordant son acte à l’ordre cosmique favorable et à la juste bienséance rituelle.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights acting in alignment with dharma through attention to auspicious timing and ritual order: major undertakings are ideally begun when cosmic signs (like the Sun’s northward course) indicate a favorable, orderly season, and with proper priestly guidance.
A principal figure departs from Hastināpura (called Gajapura), accompanied by priests. He does so after observing that the Sun has shifted from the southern course (Dakṣiṇāyana) to the northern course (Uttarāyaṇa), marking an auspicious transition for commencing a significant action.