Shloka 43
स्वर्गारोहणपर्व — तृतीयोऽध्यायः
Indra and Dharma’s Consolation; Celestial Gaṅgā Purification
लोहकुम्भ्य: शिलाश्वैव नादृश्यन्त भयानका: । वहाँ पापकर्मी पुरुषोंको जो यातनाएँ दी जाती थीं वे सहसा अदृश्य हो गयीं। न वैतरणी नदी रह गयी, न कूटशाल्मलि वृक्ष। लोहेके कुम्भ और लोहमयी भयंकर तप्त शिलाएँ भी नहीं दिखायी देती थीं,ततो ययौ वृतो देवै: कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिर: । धर्मेण सहितो धीमान् स्तूयमानो महर्षिभि: तत्पश्चात् देवताओंसे घिरे हुए बुद्धिमान् कुरुराज युधिष्छठिर महर्षियोंके मुखसे अपनी स्तुति सुनते हुए धर्मके साथ उस स्थानको गये जहाँ वे पुरुषसिंह शूरवीर पाण्डव और धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र क्रोध त्यागकर आनन्दपूर्वक अपने-अपने स्थानोंपर रहते थे
lohakumbhyaḥ śilāś caiva nādṛśyanta bhayānakāḥ | tato yayau vṛto devaiḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dharmeṇa sahito dhīmān stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ ||
The dreadful iron cauldrons and the burning iron-like stones were no longer seen. Then the Kuru king Yudhiṣṭhira—wise, accompanied by Dharma, surrounded by the gods, and praised by the great seers—proceeded onward. The scene signals a moral turning-point: the terrifying vision of punitive suffering vanishes, and the righteous king is led, under Dharma’s guidance, toward the realm where the heroic Pāṇḍavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra dwell in their own stations, having abandoned anger and found peace.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most terrifying visions of punishment are subordinate to Dharma’s larger purpose: to test, refine, and finally lead the righteous toward peace. The passage emphasizes that anger and hatred are ultimately relinquished, and that moral order culminates in reconciliation under divine oversight.
The dreadful implements associated with torment (iron cauldrons and burning stones) are no longer visible. Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by the personified Dharma and escorted by gods while praised by seers, is led onward toward the place where the Pāṇḍavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra reside peacefully, having abandoned wrath.