Shloka 2

Mahāprasthānika-parva Adhyāya 2: The Northward March, Sight of Himavat and Meru, and the Sequential Falls

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! मनको संयममें रखकर उत्तर दिशाका आश्रय लेनेवाले योगयुक्त पाण्डवोंने मार्गमें महापर्वत हिमालयका दर्शन किया ।।

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca—janamejaya! manasaṃ saṃyamya uttaradiśam āśritya yogayuktāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ pathi mahāparvataṃ himālayaṃ dadṛśuḥ. taṃ cāpy atikramantas te dadṛśur vālukārṇavam; avaikṣanta mahāśailaṃ meruṃ śikharīṇāṃ varam. iti śrīmahābhārate mahāprasthānike parvaṇi draupadyādipatane dvitīyo 'dhyāyaḥ.

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଜନମେଜୟ! ମନକୁ ସଂଯମରେ ରଖି ଯୋଗରେ ଯୁକ୍ତ ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନେ ଉତ୍ତର ଦିଗକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ଚାଲିଲେ। ପଥେ ସେମାନେ ମହାପର୍ବତ ହିମାଳୟଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖିଲେ। ତାହାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରି ଆଗକୁ ବଢ଼ିବା ସମୟରେ ସେମାନେ ବାଲୁକାର ସମୁଦ୍ର ଦେଖିଲେ; ଏବଂ ଶିଖରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମହାଶୈଳ ମେରୁଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦର୍ଶନ କଲେ। ଏହି କଥା କହି ମହାବାହୁ ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ପଛକୁ ନ ଚାହିଁ ସିଧା ଆଗକୁ ଚାଲିଗଲେ। ଏକ କୁକୁର ମଧ୍ୟ ନିରନ୍ତର ତାଙ୍କ ପଛେ ପଛେ ଚାଲୁଥିଲା—ଯାହାର କଥା ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ ଅନେକଥର କହିଛି।

Word by Word

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अतिक्रमन्तः: crossing, passing beyond
• अतिक्रमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: Present (Shatru-participle), Parasmaipada (active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ददृशुः: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वालुका-अर्णवम्: ocean of sand (sand-sea)
• वालुका-अर्णवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालुका + अर्णव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अवैक्षन्त: looked at, beheld
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महाशैलम्: the great mountain
• महाशैलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशैल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मेरुम्: Meru
• मेरुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शिखरिणाम्: of the peak-bearing (mountains)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखरिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरम्: best, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Himālaya
• Vālukārṇava (ocean of sand)
• Meru
• Dog

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights disciplined renunciation: the Pāṇḍavas proceed with mind-control and yogic steadiness, moving forward without looking back—an ethical image of detachment from worldly landmarks and achievements while remaining faithful to the chosen path of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

On their final journey north, the Pāṇḍavas see the Himalaya, then a vast sandy expanse described as an ‘ocean of sand,’ and also Mount Meru. Yudhiṣṭhira continues onward without turning back, while a dog persistently follows them.