Shloka 23
Svargārohaṇa-parva, Adhyāya 4 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vision of the Celestial Assembly
Recognition and Explanation
गुहाकानां गतिं चापि केचित् प्राप्ता नराधिपा: । त्यक्त्वा देहं जितः स्वर्ग: पुण्यवाग्बुद्धिकर्मभि:,किन्हीं-किन्हीं राजाओंको गुह्म॒कोंकी गति प्राप्त हुई है। ये सब युद्धमें शरीर त्यागकर अपनी पवित्र वाणी, बुद्धि और करमोके द्वारा स्वर्गलोकपर अधिकार प्राप्त कर चुके हैं'
guhakānāṁ gatiṁ cāpi kecit prāptā narādhipāḥ | tyaktvā dehaṁ jitaḥ svargaḥ puṇya-vāg-buddhi-karmabhiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Some kings attained even the destiny associated with the Guhyakas. Having laid down their bodies in battle, they won the heavenly world through the purity of their speech, their understanding, and their deeds—suggesting that moral and disciplined conduct, not mere power, secures exalted posthumous states.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that exalted posthumous attainments (such as heaven or special destinies) are won through moral excellence—purity in speech, clarity of intellect, and righteous action—rather than through status alone.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the various destinations attained by rulers after death; here he notes that some kings, having died in battle, achieved heaven and even a destiny linked with the Guhyakas, due to their meritorious conduct.