Shloka 17

Adhyāya 32: Tāpasānāṃ Darśanaṃ — Ascetics Seek to Identify the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु सलिलस्थो महामुनि:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | gateṣu teṣu sarveṣu salilastho mahāmuniḥ |

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ସେମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ ଅଦୃଶ୍ୟ ହୋଇଯିବା ପରେ, କୌରବମାନଙ୍କ ହିତକାମୀ, ମହାତେଜସ୍ବୀ ଓ ଧର୍ମନିଷ୍ଠ ମହାମୁନି ବ୍ୟାସ ଜଳରେ ଦାଁଡ଼ି ଥାଇ ସେହି ବିଧବା କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ନାରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ—“ଦେବୀମାନେ! ତୁମମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଯେଉଁଯେଉଁ ସତୀ-ସାଧ୍ବୀ ନିଜ-ନିଜ ପତିଙ୍କ ଲୋକକୁ ଯିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ଆଳସ୍ୟ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରି ଶୀଘ୍ର ଗଙ୍ଗାଜଳରେ ଅବଗାହନ କରନ୍ତୁ।” ତାଙ୍କ କଥା ଶୁଣି ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଭରା ସେହି ସତୀ ନାରୀମାନେ ଶ୍ୱଶୁର ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରଙ୍କ ଅନୁମତି ନେଇ ଗଙ୍ଗାଜଳରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• गतेषु: when (they) had gone
• गतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (√गम्)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• तेषु: among them / in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• सर्वेषु: in all (of them)
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• सलिलस्थः: standing in water
• सलिलस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vyāsa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Kauravas
• Kṣatriya widows (Kaurava women)
• Gaṅgā (river)
• salila (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage frames steadfastness to one’s chosen dharma as requiring promptness and inner resolve: those who seek reunion with their husbands are urged to abandon inertia, act decisively, and do so with due respect for elders and social order (seeking Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s permission).

What is happening in the narrative?

After others disappear from view, Vyāsa stands in the Gaṅgā and instructs the widowed Kṣatriya women that any who wish to reach their husbands’ realm should immediately plunge into the river. Trusting him, and after obtaining Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s consent, the devoted women enter the Gaṅgā.