Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसानां पिशाचानां केचिच्चाप्युत्तरान्‌ कुरून्‌ । विचित्रगतय: सर्वे यानवाप्यामरै: सह

Transliteration

rākṣasānāṁ piśācānāṁ kecic cāpy uttarān kurūn | vicitragatayaḥ sarve yānavāpy amaraiḥ saha ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Entre os rākṣasas e os piśācas, alguns seguiram para os Kurus do Norte. Todos avançaram por caminhos diversos e maravilhosos—alguns até na companhia dos deuses—indicando os variados destinos que cabem aos seres segundo sua natureza e seus atos.

Word by Word

• राक्षसानाम्: of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पिशाचानाम्: of the Pishachas
• पिशाचानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• केचित्: some (persons/beings)
• केचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उत्तरान्: northern
• उत्तरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कुरून्: the Kurus
• कुरून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विचित्रगतयः: having varied movements/ways
• विचित्रगतयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रगति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यान: vehicle/conveyance
• यान: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्य: having obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• अमरैः: with the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Rākṣasas
• Piśācas
• Uttara-Kuru (Northern Kurus)
• Amaras (Devas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that beings attain different courses and destinations—some exalted, some uncanny—reflecting their inherent nature and the moral force of their actions (karma), within a cosmos that includes both divine and non-human orders.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes various non-human beings (rākṣasas and piśācas) departing toward the mythic northern realm of Uttara-Kuru; their movements are described as diverse and extraordinary, with some even traveling in the company of the gods.