Shloka 40
स्वर्गारोहणपर्व — तृतीयोऽध्यायः
Indra and Dharma’s Consolation; Celestial Gaṅgā Purification
एवमुक्त: स राजर्षिस्तव पूर्वपितामह: । जगाम सह धर्मेण सर्वैक्ष त्रिदिवालयै:,जनमेजय! धर्मके यों कहनेपर तुम्हारे पूर्वपितामह राजर्षि युधिष्ठिरने धर्म तथा समस्त स्वर्गवासी देवताओंके साथ जाकर मुनिजनवन्दित परम पावन पुण्यसलिला देवनदी गड़ाजीमें स्नान किया। स्नान करके राजाने तत्काल अपने मानवशरीरको त्याग दिया
evam uktaḥ sa rājarṣis tava pūrva-pitāmahaḥ | jagāma saha dharmeṇa sarvaiś ca tridivālayaiḥ, janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus addressed, your forefather, the royal sage, set forth—accompanied by Dharma and by all the dwellers of heaven, O Janamejaya. (In the narrative continuation of this moment, he proceeds to the sacred divine river, bathes, and then relinquishes his human body.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that steadfast dharma is not merely an abstract rule but a guiding presence: the righteous king, as a rājarṣi, moves forward in the company of Dharma itself and the heavenly order, suggesting that ethical integrity culminates in spiritual elevation and rightful passage beyond the human condition.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to Janamejaya that Yudhiṣṭhira, the listener’s forefather, having been addressed, departs accompanied by Dharma and the celestial beings. In the immediate narrative flow of this section, he proceeds to the sacred divine river, bathes, and then abandons his mortal body.