Shloka 24
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
ह॒त्वाग्निं विधिवत सर्वे प्रययुस्ते यथाक्रमम् । उदड़्मुखा निरीक्षन्त उपवासपरायणा:
hutvā agniṁ vidhivat sarve prayayus te yathākramam | udaṅmukhā nirīkṣanta upavāsaparāyaṇāḥ ||
វៃសម្បាយនៈបាននិយាយថា៖ បន្ទាប់ពីបានបូជាអាហុតិចូលក្នុងភ្លើងបរិសុទ្ធតាមវិន័យរួច ពួកគេទាំងអស់បានចេញដំណើរទៅមុខតាមលំដាប់។ ដោយបានអត់អាហារពេញរាត្រី ពួកគេដើរទៅដោយបែរមុខទៅទិសជើង ហើយភ្នែកមើលទៅទិសនោះជានិច្ច—ជំហានរឹងមាំក្នុងវិន័យ និងភាពបរិសុទ្ធនៃពិធី។
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic discipline: before undertaking a significant departure, one completes prescribed rites (agnihotra/oblations) and practices self-restraint (fasting). The northward orientation symbolizes a deliberate, vow-bound movement toward austerity and higher aims rather than comfort.
After performing the proper fire-offering, the group departs in orderly sequence. They have observed an overnight fast and proceed facing north, keeping their attention fixed ahead, indicating a solemn, regulated journey consistent with ascetic or vow-based conduct.