Shloka 43
स्वर्गारोहणपर्व — तृतीयोऽध्यायः
Indra and Dharma’s Consolation; Celestial Gaṅgā Purification
लोहकुम्भ्य: शिलाश्वैव नादृश्यन्त भयानका: । वहाँ पापकर्मी पुरुषोंको जो यातनाएँ दी जाती थीं वे सहसा अदृश्य हो गयीं। न वैतरणी नदी रह गयी
lohakumbhyaḥ śilāś caiva nādṛśyanta bhayānakāḥ | tato yayau vṛto devaiḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dharmeṇa sahito dhīmān stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ ||
恐るべき鉄の釜も、鉄のごとく灼ける熱石も、もはや見えなかった。罪業の者たちに加えられていた責め苦は、たちまち消え失せた。ヴァイタラニーの河もなく、クータ・シャールマリーの樹もない。かくして、俱盧の王ユディシュティラは—賢明にしてダルマとともにあり、神々に囲まれ、大仙たちの口から讃嘆を受けつつ—さらに前へと進んだ。この光景は道義の転回を告げる。懲罰の苦患という戦慄すべき幻影は消え、正しき王はダルマの導きのもと、獅子のごとき勇士たるパーンダヴァとドリタラーシュトラの子らが、怒りを捨てて安らぎを得、各々の位に喜び住まう境域へと導かれるのである。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most terrifying visions of punishment are subordinate to Dharma’s larger purpose: to test, refine, and finally lead the righteous toward peace. The passage emphasizes that anger and hatred are ultimately relinquished, and that moral order culminates in reconciliation under divine oversight.
The dreadful implements associated with torment (iron cauldrons and burning stones) are no longer visible. Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by the personified Dharma and escorted by gods while praised by seers, is led onward toward the place where the Pāṇḍavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra reside peacefully, having abandoned wrath.