Shloka 46
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
उदीची पुनरावृत्य ययुर्भरतसत्तमा: | प्रादक्षिण्यं चिकीर्षन्त: पृथिव्या योगधर्मिण:
udīcīṃ punarāvṛtya yayur bharatasattamāḥ | prādakṣiṇyaṃ cikīrṣantaḥ pṛthivyā yogadharmiṇaḥ ||
Se tournant de nouveau vers le nord, les plus éminents des Bhārata poursuivirent leur route. Établis dans la discipline du yoga, ils voulaient accomplir la pradakṣiṇā : faire le tour de la terre selon la rotation propice, vers la droite, en geste de révérence et de maîtrise de soi sur leur ultime chemin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.