Shloka 11
Mahāprasthānika-parva Adhyāya 2: The Northward March, Sight of Himavat and Meru, and the Sequential Falls
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तं समुत्सूज्य सहदेवं ययौ तदा । भ्रातृभि: सह कौन्तेय: शुना चैव युधिष्ठिर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca: ity uktvā taṃ samutsṛjya sahadevaṃ yayau tadā | bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kaunteyaḥ śunā caiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ayant parlé ainsi, il laissa Sahadeva derrière lui et poursuivit sa marche. Yudhiṣṭhira, fils de Kuntī, s’avança avec les frères qui lui restaient, et aussi avec un chien—continuant d’un pas ferme, tandis que, sur la voie ultime, les compagnons s’éteignaient l’un après l’autre.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores vairāgya (detachment) and perseverance on the path of dharma: even when loved ones fall away, one must continue forward without abandoning righteousness—while still allowing compassion to remain, symbolized by Yudhiṣṭhira not casting off the dog.
After speaking (to Sahadeva), Yudhiṣṭhira leaves Sahadeva behind and continues the great departure with his remaining brothers; a dog accompanies him as he proceeds onward.