Shloka 26

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

एकचक्रां ततो गत्वा पाण्डवा: संशितव्रता: । वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नास्ते5भवन्‌ ब्रह्मचारिण:,तदनन्तर कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले पाण्डव एकचक्रा नगरीमें जाकर वेदाध्ययनपरायण ब्रह्मचारी बन गये

Transliteration

ekacakrāṃ tato gatvā pāṇḍavāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | vedādhyayanasampannās te 'bhavan brahmacāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—అనంతరం కఠిన వ్రతనిష్ఠులైన పాండవులు ఏకచక్రా నగరికి వెళ్లిరి. అక్కడ వారు వేదాధ్యయనమున నిమగ్నులై, నియమబద్ధ బ్రహ్మచారులుగా నివసించిరి.

Word by Word

एकचक्राम्to Ekacakrā (city)

ततःthen/from there

गत्वाhaving gone

पाण्डवाःthe Pāṇḍavas

संशितव्रताःof firm/austere vows

वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नाःaccomplished in Vedic study

तेthey

अभवन्became/were

ब्रह्मचारिणःbrahmacārins (celibate students)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Pāṇḍavāḥ (the Pāṇḍavas)

Ekacakrā

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 dharmic self-restraint: in adversity, the Pāṇḍavas adopt brahmacarya and Vedic study, showing that ethical discipline and learning can be a protective and purifying path.

What is happening in the narrative?

After earlier events, the Pāṇḍavas travel to Ekacakrā and take up the lifestyle of brahmacārins—living under vows and focusing on Vedic study—consistent with a period of low-profile, disciplined living.