Shloka 43
स्वर्गारोहणपर्व — तृतीयोऽध्यायः
Indra and Dharma’s Consolation; Celestial Gaṅgā Purification
लोहकुम्भ्य: शिलाश्वैव नादृश्यन्त भयानका: । वहाँ पापकर्मी पुरुषोंको जो यातनाएँ दी जाती थीं वे सहसा अदृश्य हो गयीं। न वैतरणी नदी रह गयी
lohakumbhyaḥ śilāś caiva nādṛśyanta bhayānakāḥ | tato yayau vṛto devaiḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dharmeṇa sahito dhīmān stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ ||
Kawah-kawah besi yang menggerunkan dan batu-batu yang membara seperti besi tidak lagi kelihatan. Segala seksaan yang dahulu ditimpakan kepada lelaki-lelaki pelaku dosa lenyap serta-merta. Sungai Vaitaraṇī tidak lagi ada, demikian juga pohon Kūṭa-śālmalī. Lalu raja Kuru, Yudhiṣṭhira—bijaksana, bersama Dharma, dikelilingi para dewa, dan dipuji oleh para resi agung—meneruskan perjalanan. Adegan itu menandai titik balik moral: penglihatan ngeri tentang penderitaan hukuman sirna, dan raja yang benar dibimbing oleh Dharma menuju alam tempat para pahlawan Pāṇḍava dan putera-putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra, setelah meninggalkan amarah, bersemayam damai, masing-masing pada kedudukannya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most terrifying visions of punishment are subordinate to Dharma’s larger purpose: to test, refine, and finally lead the righteous toward peace. The passage emphasizes that anger and hatred are ultimately relinquished, and that moral order culminates in reconciliation under divine oversight.
The dreadful implements associated with torment (iron cauldrons and burning stones) are no longer visible. Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by the personified Dharma and escorted by gods while praised by seers, is led onward toward the place where the Pāṇḍavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra reside peacefully, having abandoned wrath.