Mahabharata 3.2.3 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 3
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
फलमूलाशनाहारा वनं गच्छाम दु:ःखिता: । वनं च दोषबहुलं बहुव्यालसरीसूपम्
phalamūlāśanāhārā vanaṁ gacchāma duḥkhitāḥ | vanaṁ ca doṣabahulaṁ bahuvyālasarīsṛpam ||
“ഫലവും മൂലവും ആഹാരമാക്കി ഞങ്ങൾ ദുഃഖത്തോടെ വനത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു. ആ വനമോ ദോഷങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞത്; അനവധി ക്രൂരമൃഗങ്ങളും സർപ്പാദി സരീസൃപങ്ങളും നിറഞ്ഞത്.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights endurance and disciplined simplicity in adversity: when worldly power and wealth are lost, one can still uphold dharma through restraint, acceptance of hardship, and readiness to face danger without abandoning righteous conduct.
The speakers describe their departure into exile, choosing a forest-dweller’s diet of fruits and roots. They also acknowledge the forest’s perils—its many hardships and the presence of dangerous beasts and reptiles—setting the tone for the trials of the Vana Parva.
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