Shloka 18
प्रदक्षिणं वैश्रवणाधिवासं चकार धर्मार्थविदुत्तमौजा: आमन्त्र्य वेश्मानि नदी: सरांसि सर्वाणि रक्षांसि च धर्मराज:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले उत्तम ओजसे सम्पन्न श्रेष्ठ महात्मा धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिने उस समय उन सबके अभिप्रायको जानकर कुबेरके निवासस्थान उस गन्धमादन पर्वतकी प्रदक्षिणा की। फिर उन्होंने वहाँके भवनों, नदियों, सरोवरों तथा समस्त राक्षसोंसे विदा ली। इसके बाद वे जिस मार्गसे आये थे, उसकी ओर देखने लगे। तदनन्तर उन विशुद्धबुद्धि महात्मा युधिष्ठिरने पुनः गन्धमादन पर्वतकी ओर देखते हुए उस श्रेष्ठ गिरिराजसे इस प्रकार प्रार्थना की
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pradakṣiṇaṃ vaiśravaṇādhivāsaṃ cakāra dharmārthavid uttamaujāḥ | āmantṛya veśmāni nadīḥ sarāṃsi sarvāṇi rakṣāṃsi ca dharmarājaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira—endowed with excellent vigor and well-versed in the principles of dharma and artha—circumambulated the abode of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera). Having taken leave of the dwellings, the rivers, the lakes, and all the rākṣasas there, he turned his gaze back toward the route by which they had come.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct expressed through respectful ritual action (pradakṣiṇā) and proper leave-taking (āmantṛya). Even in extraordinary settings among powerful beings, Yudhiṣṭhira’s knowledge of dharma and artha manifests as humility, gratitude, and orderly behavior—ethical strength rather than mere physical force.
After their encounter in Kubera’s region, Yudhiṣṭhira circumambulates Kubera’s abode as an act of reverence, then formally bids farewell to the local dwellings, waters, and rākṣasas. He then looks back toward the path of return, marking a transition from the sacred encounter to the journey onward.