Shloka 17
Adharma’s Short-Lived Prosperity and the Restorative Path of Tīrtha (लोमश–युधिष्ठिर संवादः)
भगवन्! आपने मुझे तीर्थोंके दर्शनके लिये जो उत्साह प्रदान किया है, वह ठीक है। मैंने पहलेसे ही धौम्यजीके आदेशसे तीर्थोमें जानेका विचार कर रखा है ।। तद् यदा मन्यसे ब्रह्मन् गमन तीर्थदर्शने तदैव गन्तास्मि तीर्थान्यिष मे निश्चय: पर:,अतः ब्रह्म! आप जब ठीक समझें तभी मैं तीर्थोंके दर्शनके लिये चल दूँगा; यही मेरा अन्तिम निश्चय है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | bhagavan! āpane mujhe tīrthoṃ ke darśana ke liye jo utsāha pradāna kiyā hai, vaha ṭhīk hai | maiṃne pahle se hī dhaumya-jī ke ādeśa se tīrthoṃ meṃ jāne kā vicār kar rakhā hai || tad yadā manyase brahman gamanaṃ tīrtha-darśane tadaiva gantāsmi tīrthāni iṣ me niścayaḥ paraḥ | ataḥ brahman! āpa jab ṭhīk samjheṃ tabhī maiṃ tīrthoṃ ke darśana ke liye cal dūṃgā; yahī merā antim niścaya hai |
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Revered sir, the encouragement you have given me to visit the sacred fords is fitting. Indeed, even earlier—on the instruction of Dhaumya—I had already resolved to undertake a pilgrimage. Therefore, O Brahmin, whenever you deem it proper for me to set out to behold the tīrthas, at that very time I shall depart. This is my firm and final decision.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a righteous king acts with humility and restraint: he honors prior vows, follows the guidance of elders (Dhaumya), and seeks proper timing and approval from a learned authority before undertaking a dharmic act like pilgrimage.
In the forest-exile context of the Vana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira expresses readiness for a tīrtha-yātrā. He tells the addressed Brahmin/sage that he had already planned it under Dhaumya’s instruction and will depart as soon as the elder deems it appropriate.