Shloka 20

वनप्रस्थानम् (Departure for the Forest) — Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 24

Devanagari script

मनोरमां भोगवतीमुपेत्य पूतात्मनां चीरजटाधराणाम्‌ | तस्मिन्‌ वने धर्मभूतां निवासे ददर्श सिद्धर्षिगणाननेकान्‌,मनोरम भोगवती (सरस्वती) नदीमें स्नान करके जिनके अन्त:करण पवित्र हो गये हैं, जो वल्‍्कल और जटा धारण करते हैं, ऐसे धर्मात्माओंके निवासभूत उस वनमें राजाने सिद्धमहर्षियोंके अनेक समुदाय देखे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | manoramāṃ bhogavatīm upetya pūtātmanāṃ cīra-jaṭādharāṇām | tasmin vane dharma-bhūtāṃ nivāse dadarśa siddharṣi-gaṇān anekān |

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Достигнув прекрасной, дарующей усладу реки Сарасвати и омывшись в её водах, царь увидел в том лесу — обители, освящённой дхармой, — множество собраний совершенных риши, сиддхов. Те подвижники, очистившие свой внутренний мир, носили одежды из коры и спутанные пряди волос, являя жизнь самообуздания и праведности.

Word by Word

मनोरमाम्charming, delightful (her)

भोगवतीम्Bhogavatī (river Sarasvatī)

उपेत्यhaving approached / having gone to

पूतात्मनाम्of the purified-souled (men)

चीरजटाधराणाम्of those wearing bark-garments and matted hair

तस्मिन्in that

वनेin the forest

धर्मभूताम्being (a place) of dharma; righteous in nature

निवासेin the abode/dwelling-place

ददर्शhe saw

सिद्धर्षिगणान्groups of perfected sages

अनेकान्many

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Sarasvatī (Bhogavatī) river

the king (rājā; contextually the Pāṇḍava leader in exile)

forest hermitage region

siddharṣis (perfected sages)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights purification through sacred practice and the ethical ideal of tapas: those who live simply (bark garments, matted hair) and keep the mind pure become embodiments of dharma, turning even a forest into a sanctified abode.

What is happening in the narrative?

After reaching the beautiful Bhogavatī (identified with the Sarasvatī) and bathing, the king enters a forest dwelling-place of dharma and sees many groups of siddha sages residing there.