Shloka 5
Arjuna meets the Lokapālas, is tested by Indra, and is led to Amarāvatī for astra-śikṣā
Indraloka-gamana
इन्द्रवैश्रवणावेतां दिशं पाण्डव रक्षत: | पर्वतैश्न वनान्तैश्न काननैश्वैव शोभिताम्
indravaiśravaṇāvetāṃ diśaṃ pāṇḍava rakṣataḥ | parvataiś ca vanāntaiś ca kānanaiś caiva śobhitām |
ഇന്ദ്രനും വൈശ്രവണനും (കുബേരൻ) അധിഷ്ഠിതമായ ആ ദിശയെ പാണ്ഡവൻ കാവൽ കാത്തിരുന്നു; പർവ്വതങ്ങളും വനാന്തപ്രദേശങ്ങളും ഘനകാനനങ്ങളും അതിനെ ശോഭിപ്പിച്ചു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as vigilant stewardship: guarding one’s assigned domain is portrayed as a principled duty harmonized with cosmic order (the quarters presided over by deities), not merely a practical necessity.
Vaiśampāyana describes a Pāṇḍava standing guard over a particular quarter associated with Indra and Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), while also painting the setting as a beautiful landscape of mountains, forest edges, and groves.