Shloka 23
Svargārohaṇa-parva, Adhyāya 4 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vision of the Celestial Assembly
Recognition and Explanation
गुहाकानां गतिं चापि केचित् प्राप्ता नराधिपा: । त्यक्त्वा देहं जितः स्वर्ग: पुण्यवाग्बुद्धिकर्मभि:
guhakānāṁ gatiṁ cāpi kecit prāptā narādhipāḥ | tyaktvā dehaṁ jitaḥ svargaḥ puṇya-vāg-buddhi-karmabhiḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Certains rois atteignirent même la destinée associée aux Guhyakas. Ayant abandonné leur corps au combat, ils gagnèrent le monde céleste par la pureté de leur parole, de leur intelligence et de leurs actes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that exalted posthumous attainments (such as heaven or special destinies) are won through moral excellence—purity in speech, clarity of intellect, and righteous action—rather than through status alone.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the various destinations attained by rulers after death; here he notes that some kings, having died in battle, achieved heaven and even a destiny linked with the Guhyakas, due to their meritorious conduct.