Mahabharata 3.42.24 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 42, Shloka 24
Lokapāla-samāgamaḥ—Arjuna Receives Astras from the World-Guardians
Book 3, Chapter 42
अद्विराज महाशैल मुनिसंश्रय तीर्थवन् | गच्छाम्यामन्त्रयामि त्वां सुखमस्म्युषितस्त्वयि
advirāja mahāśaila munisaṁśraya tīrthavān | gacchāmy āmantrayāmi tvāṁ sukham asmy uṣitas tvayi ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ അദ്രിരാജാ, ഹേ മഹാശൈലമേ! മുനിമാരുടെ ആശ്രയവും തീർത്ഥങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതവുമായ പർവ്വതമേ! ഞാൻ നിനക്കുമേൽ സുഖമായി വസിച്ചു; അതിനാൽ ആദരത്തോടെ നിന്റെ അനുവാദം വാങ്ങി ഇപ്പോൾ പുറപ്പെടുന്നു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic conduct in departure: one should not leave a benefactor or a sacred place abruptly, but take respectful leave (āmantraṇa), acknowledging the support received. It also frames the natural world—especially a tīrtha-bearing mountain—as worthy of reverence, like a host or elder.
The speaker addresses the Himalaya as a living, honored presence—‘king of mountains,’ ‘abode of sages,’ ‘rich in tīrthas’—and says he has stayed there happily. Having completed his stay, he now asks permission and departs, marking a transition in the forest-journey/pilgrimage setting.
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