Shloka 24

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)

Devanagari script

ह॒त्वाग्निं विधिवत सर्वे प्रययुस्ते यथाक्रमम्‌ । उदड़्मुखा निरीक्षन्त उपवासपरायणा:

Transliteration

hutvā agniṁ vidhivat sarve prayayus te yathākramam | udaṅmukhā nirīkṣanta upavāsaparāyaṇāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Après avoir, selon la règle, versé les oblations dans le feu sacré, ils partirent tous en bon ordre. Ayant jeûné toute la nuit, ils avancèrent le visage tourné vers le nord, le regard fixé dans cette direction — dans une retenue disciplinée et une pureté rituelle.

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having killed/put out
• हत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), कर्तरि

• अग्निम्: the fire
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विधिवत्: according to rule, duly
• विधिवत्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रययुः: went forth, departed
• प्रययुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + प्र
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)

• क्रमम्: order, sequence
• क्रमम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उदङ्मुखाः: north-facing
• उदङ्मुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निरीक्षन्तः: looking, gazing
• निरीक्षन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु) + निर्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural, कर्तरि

• उपवासपरायणाः: devoted to fasting
• उपवासपरायणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवास-परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Agni (sacred fire)
• Uttara-diś (the northern direction)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic discipline: before undertaking a significant departure, one completes prescribed rites (agnihotra/oblations) and practices self-restraint (fasting). The northward orientation symbolizes a deliberate, vow-bound movement toward austerity and higher aims rather than comfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

After performing the proper fire-offering, the group departs in orderly sequence. They have observed an overnight fast and proceed facing north, keeping their attention fixed ahead, indicating a solemn, regulated journey consistent with ascetic or vow-based conduct.