Shloka 54

युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya

Devanagari script

षष्ठकालोपवासेन मासमुष्य महालये

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭha-kālopavāsena māsam uṣya mahālaye

Translation

Ghūlastya dit : «En observant le jeûne à chaque sixième moment de repas, je demeurai un mois entier dans la grande demeure sacrée, me soutenant par l’austérité et la discipline.»

Word by Word

• षष्ठकालोपवासेन: by the fast observed at the sixth time (i.e., on every sixth meal/time)
• षष्ठकालोपवासेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठकालोपवास
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मासम्: a month
• मासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उष्य: having dwelt (having stayed)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• महालये: in the great abode (in a great sanctuary/place)
• महालये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महालय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ghūlastya (speaker)
• mahālaya (great abode/temple)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) as a dharmic discipline: regulated fasting and controlled living in a sacred place are presented as means of cultivating restraint, endurance, and moral seriousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker, Ghūlastya, describes a specific vow-like practice—fasting according to a sixth-time/mealtime cycle—and states that he maintained this regimen for a month while residing in a ‘great abode,’ implying a sacred or revered setting.