Shloka 23
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो धर्मक्ष शक्रश्न मरुतश्षाश्विनावपि । देवा देवर्षयश्चैव रथमारोप्य पाण्डवम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--यों कहकर धर्म, इन्द्र, मरुद्गण, अश्विनीकुमार, देवता तथा देवर्षियोंने पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिक्तो रथपर बिठाकर अपने-अपने विमानोंद्वारा स्वर्गलोकको प्रस्थान किया। वे सब-के-सब इच्छानुसार विचरनेवाले, रजोगुणशून्य पुण्यात्मा, पवित्र वाणी, बुद्धि और कर्मवाले तथा सिद्ध थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato dharmaḥ śakraś ca marutaś cāśvināv api | devā devarṣayaś caiva ratham āropya pāṇḍavam |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Dharma and Śakra (Indra), along with the Maruts and the two Aśvins, and also the gods and the divine seers, placed the Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira) upon a chariot. Having thus honored him, they set out for heaven in their respective celestial vehicles—signifying that steadfast righteousness, when tested to its limit, is ultimately received and upheld by the cosmic order itself.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that unwavering adherence to dharma is not merely a personal ethic but aligns one with the cosmic order; such integrity is ultimately acknowledged and upheld by the divine powers themselves.
After the culmination of the great journey, Dharma, Indra, the Maruts, the Aśvins, and other gods and divine seers place Yudhiṣṭhira on a celestial chariot and depart for heaven in their own heavenly vehicles, marking his acceptance into Svarga.