Shloka 124
Adhyāya 125: Raṅga-pradarśana — Arjuna’s Entry and Astric Demonstration (रङ्गप्रदर्शनम्)
(ततः पुरोहित: स्नात्वा प्रेतकर्मणि पारग: । हिरण्यशकलान्याज्यं तिलान् दधि च तण्डुलान् ।।
tataḥ purohitaḥ snātvā pretakarmaṇi pāragāḥ | hiraṇyaśakalāny ājyaṃ tilān dadhi ca taṇḍulān || udakumbhaṃ saparaśuṃ samānīya tapassvibhiḥ | aśvamedhāgnim āhṛtya yathānyāyaṃ samantataḥ || kāśyapaḥ kārayāmāsa pāṇḍoḥ pretasya tāṃ kriyām || ahatāmbarasaṃvīto bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito 'naghaḥ | udakaṃ kṛtavāṃs tatra purohitamate sthitaḥ || arhatas tasya kṛtyāni śataśṛṅganivāsinaḥ | tāpasā vidhivac cakruś cāraṇā ṛṣibhiḥ saha ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。ついで家の祭司は、沐浴して亡者の儀礼に通じた者として、金片、酥油（グリタ）、胡麻、凝乳、米を集め、水壺と斧をも備え、苦行者たちの助けを得て馬祭（アシュヴァメーダ）の聖火を迎えた。四方を法にかなうよう整え、カーシュヤパは亡きパーンドゥの葬送の儀を執り行わせた。その後、罪なきユディシュティラは新衣をまとい、兄弟とともに祭司の教えに従ってその場で水の供養（ウダカ）を捧げた。シャタシュリンガに住む苦行者たちは、チャーラナおよびリシたちと共に、あの尊き王に対してなすべき死後の諸儀礼を、作法どおりに成し遂げた。かくして『マハーバーラタ』アーディ・パルヴァ、サンバヴァ・パルヴァの第百二十四章は終わる。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is shown as disciplined responsibility in times of loss: the living honor the dead through prescribed rites, guided by learned authority (the purohita) and supported by community witnesses (ascetics, ṛṣis, and Cāraṇas). Ethical conduct here is not abstract—it is enacted through correct, respectful ritual action and filial duty.
After Pāṇḍu’s death, the priest Kāśyapa prepares the required ritual substances and brings a sacred fire associated with the Aśvamedha. He conducts Pāṇḍu’s funerary rites according to rule. Yudhiṣṭhira, wearing fresh garments and accompanied by his brothers, performs the water-oblation as instructed. Ascetics of Śataśṛṅga, together with ṛṣis and Cāraṇas, complete the remaining posthumous rites.