Shloka 22
तीर्थयात्रा: सागरतीर्थ-शूर्पारक-प्रभासगमनम्
Pilgrimage to Sea Tīrthas, Śūrpāraka, and Prabhāsa
तेषां स सर्व चरित॑ परेषां वने च वासं परमप्रतीत: । अस्त्रार्थमिन्द्रस्य गतं च पार्थ निवेशनं हृष्टमना: शशंस,तत्पश्चात् राजा युधिष्ठिरने अत्यन्त विश्वस्त होकर यादवोंसे शत्रुओंकी सारी करतूतें कह सुनायीं और अपने वनवासका भी सब समाचार बताया। साथ ही बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ यह भी सूचित किया कि अर्जुन दिव्यास्त्रोंकी प्राप्तिके लिये इन्द्रलोकमें गये हैं
teṣāṃ sa sarva-caritaṃ pareṣāṃ vane ca vāsaṃ paramapratītaḥ | astrārtham indrasya gataṃ ca pārtha-niveśanaṃ hṛṣṭamanāḥ śaśaṃsa ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Fully confident, he related to King Yudhiṣṭhira the entire conduct and stratagems of their adversaries, and also reported in detail the circumstances of their dwelling in the forest. With a heart uplifted by hope, he further announced that Pārtha (Arjuna) had gone to Indra’s realm to obtain divine weapons—an act presented as prudent preparation, undertaken not for aggression but for safeguarding dharma against impending hostility.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames power as legitimate only when aligned with dharma: Arjuna’s quest for divine weapons is portrayed as responsible preparation to protect righteousness, while truthful reporting and strategic awareness are duties within righteous kingship.
A messenger/relater informs King Yudhiṣṭhira about the enemies’ actions and the details of the forest residence, and then happily conveys the significant news that Arjuna has departed for Indra’s world to obtain celestial weapons.