Shloka 24
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
युधिष्ठिरमतं ज्ञात्वा वृष्णिक्षयमवेक्ष्य च । भ्रातर: पञ्च कृष्णा च षष्ठी श्वा चैव सप्तम:,युधिष्ठिरका अभिप्राय जान और वृष्णिवंशियोंका संहार देखकर पाँचों भाई पाण्डव, द्रौपदी और एक कुत्ता--ये सब साथ-साथ चले
yudhiṣṭhiramataṃ jñātvā vṛṣṇikṣayam avekṣya ca | bhrātaraḥ pañca kṛṣṇā ca ṣaṣṭhī śvā caiva saptamaḥ ||
യുധിഷ്ഠിരന്റെ നിശ്ചയം അറിഞ്ഞും വൃഷ്ണിവംശത്തിന്റെ നാശം കണ്ടും അഞ്ചു സഹോദരന്മാർ ഒരുമിച്ച് പുറപ്പെട്ടു—കൃഷ്ണാ (ദ്രൗപദി) ആറാമതായി, ഒരു നായ ഏഴാമതായി.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic renunciation: after recognizing the collapse of worldly supports (the Vṛṣṇi destruction) and Yudhiṣṭhira’s firm resolve, the Pāṇḍavas choose a final path of detachment. It frames ethical maturity as the ability to relinquish power and proceed with steadiness when an age has ended.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the five Pāṇḍava brothers, together with Draupadī, set out on the Mahāprasthāna (the Great Departure). A dog also follows them, counted as the seventh companion, marking the beginning of their last journey away from the kingdom.