Shloka 31

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे धीमान्‌ प्रहृष्ट: कुरुनन्दन: । सो<दर्शनपथं यातो मर्त्यानां धर्मचारिणाम्‌,परम बुद्धिमान्‌ कुरुनन्दन अर्जुन बड़े प्रसन्न होकर उस अद्भुत चालसे चलनेवाले सूर्यस्वरूप दिव्य रथके द्वारा ऊपरकी ओर जाने लगे। धीरे-धीरे धर्मात्मा मनुष्योंके दृष्टिपथसे दूर हो गये

Transliteration

ūrdhvam ācakrame dhīmān prahṛṣṭaḥ kurunandanaḥ | so 'darśanapathaṃ yāto martyānāṃ dharmacāriṇām |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The wise Kurunandana, filled with joy, began to ascend upward. Gradually he passed beyond the range of sight of mortal men who walk in righteousness, disappearing from their view as he rose.

Word by Word

ऊर्ध्वम्upwards

आचक्रमेset forth / proceeded

धीमान्wise, intelligent

प्रहृष्टःdelighted, exhilarated

कुरुनन्दनःO/that Kuru-delighter (Arjuna)

सःhe

अदर्शनपथम्the path beyond sight / out of view

यातःgone, departed

मर्त्यानाम्of mortals

धर्मचारिणाम्of the righteous (dharma-practising)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kurunandana (Arjuna)

martyāḥ (mortals/humans)

adarśanapatha (path beyond sight)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that steadfast dharma and inner excellence can lead beyond ordinary human limits: the righteous hero, guided by wisdom and joy, moves toward a transcendent realm that lies outside common perception.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna (Kurunandana), delighted and wise, begins an upward journey and gradually disappears from the sight of mortal, dharma-practicing humans—signaling his transition from the human sphere to a higher, divine domain.