Shloka 153
Gandhamādana-praveśa and Vṛṣaparvan-āśrama
Entry toward Gandhamādana; hospitality and onward route
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत तीर्थयात्रापर्वमें लोमशती र्थयात्राके प्रसंगमें सौगन्धिकाहरणविषयक एक सौ तिरपनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
Iti prakāraṁ Śrīmahābhārate Vanaparvake antargataṁ tīrthayātrāparvaṇi Lomaśatīrthayātrāke prasaṅge Saugaṇḍhikāharaṇaviṣayaka ekaśatatirpañcāśattamaḥ adhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ.
Thus ends the one hundred and fifty-third chapter of the Tīrthayātrā section within the Vana Parva of the Śrī Mahābhārata, in the context of Lomāśa’s pilgrimage narrative, dealing with the episode of obtaining the fragrant saugandhika flowers. The colophon marks the completion of this unit, framing the episode as part of a larger ethical journey in which sacred travel, restraint, and right conduct are repeatedly tested and clarified through narrative events.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
As a colophon, the line primarily teaches how the epic frames meaning through structure: episodes are situated within pilgrimage discourse, where dharma is explored through travel, encounters, and self-control. The mention of the saugandhika episode signals that even seemingly small desires (such as obtaining rare flowers) are evaluated against right conduct and restraint.
This is not a spoken verse of dialogue but an editorial/narrative closing statement marking the end of the chapter. It locates the completed chapter within Vana Parva’s Tīrthayātrā section, specifically within the context of Lomāśa’s pilgrimage narration, and identifies the chapter’s topic as the obtaining of saugandhika flowers.