Shloka 11
Mahāprasthānika-parva Adhyāya 2: The Northward March, Sight of Himavat and Meru, and the Sequential Falls
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तं समुत्सूज्य सहदेवं ययौ तदा । भ्रातृभि: सह कौन्तेय: शुना चैव युधिष्ठिर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca: ity uktvā taṃ samutsṛjya sahadevaṃ yayau tadā | bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kaunteyaḥ śunā caiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah berkata demikian, dia meninggalkan Sahadeva dan meneruskan perjalanan. Yudhiṣṭhira, putera Kuntī, berjalan ke hadapan bersama saudara-saudaranya yang masih tinggal, dan juga seekor anjing—tetap teguh melangkah walau teman seperjalanan gugur satu demi satu di jalan terakhir.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores vairāgya (detachment) and perseverance on the path of dharma: even when loved ones fall away, one must continue forward without abandoning righteousness—while still allowing compassion to remain, symbolized by Yudhiṣṭhira not casting off the dog.
After speaking (to Sahadeva), Yudhiṣṭhira leaves Sahadeva behind and continues the great departure with his remaining brothers; a dog accompanies him as he proceeds onward.