Shloka 25
Arjuna meets the Lokapālas, is tested by Indra, and is led to Amarāvatī for astra-śikṣā
Indraloka-gamana
तत्र गत्वा पुनर्नेमं लोकमायान्ति भारत । स्वयम्भुवं महात्मानं देवदेवं सनातनम्
tatra gatvā punar nemaṁ lokam āyānti bhārata | svayambhuvaṁ mahātmānaṁ devadevaṁ sanātanam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô Bhārata, une fois parvenus à cet état suprême, ils ne reviennent plus en ce monde. Ces grandes âmes accomplies—purifiées par la discipline austère et les observances méritoires, délivrées de l’ignorance et de l’illusion—atteignent la demeure de Nārāyaṇa et, au lieu de retourner à l’existence mondaine, se fondent dans le Seigneur Né-de-Lui-même, éternel, Seigneur des seigneurs.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches apunarāvṛtti—those who are purified by tapas and righteous observances, and who attain yogic perfection free from ignorance and delusion, reach Nārāyaṇa’s supreme state and do not return to worldly rebirth, instead attaining union with the eternal Lord.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating to Janamejaya (addressed as Bhārata), describes the destiny of spiritually accomplished ascetics: upon reaching the divine abode of Nārāyaṇa, they do not come back to this world but attain absorption/union with the Self-born, eternal Devadeva.