Shloka 31
Arjuna meets the Lokapālas, is tested by Indra, and is led to Amarāvatī for astra-śikṣā
Indraloka-gamana
स मेरुमनुवृत्त: सन् पुनर्गच्छति पाण्डव । प्रामुख: सविता देव: सर्वभूतहिते रत:,“तदनन्तर अस्ताचलको पहुँचकर संध्याकालकी सीमाको लाँघकर ये भगवान् सूर्य उत्तर दिशाका आश्रय लेते हैं। पाण्डुनन्दन! मेरु पर्वतका अनुसरण करके उत्तर दिशाकी सीमातक पहुँचकर ये समस्त प्राणियोंके हितमें तत्पर रहनेवाले भगवान् सूर्य पुनः पूर्वाभिमुख होकर चलते हैं
sa merum anuvṛttaḥ san punar gacchati pāṇḍava | prāmukhaḥ savitā devaḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ ||
Wahai Pāṇḍava, setelah mengikuti lintasan Meru, Dewa Savitṛ—yang terdepan di antara para dewa dan senantiasa mengupayakan kesejahteraan semua makhluk—berbalik lagi dan melanjutkan perjalanannya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Sun’s regulated movement symbolizes ṛta (cosmic order): the highest power acts in a disciplined course and is described as devoted to the welfare of all beings, presenting an ethical ideal of leadership oriented toward universal good.
Vaiśaṃpāyana explains to a Pāṇḍava that the Sun-god Savitṛ follows the course associated with Mount Meru and then turns again to continue his journey, describing the Sun’s cyclical path in sacred geography.