Shloka 4

के वै तानन्ववर्तन्त प्राप्तान्‌ व्यसनमुत्तमम्‌ । किमाचारा: किमाहारा: क्व च वासो महात्मनाम्‌,उस भारी संकटमें पड़े हुए पाण्डवोंके साथ वनमें कौन-कौन गये थे? वनमें वे किस आचार-व्यवहारसे रहते थे? क्या खाते थे? और उन महात्माओंका निवास-स्थान कहाँ था?

ke vai tān anvavartanta prāptān vyasanam uttamam | kim-ācārāḥ kim-āhārāḥ kva ca vāso mahātmanām ||

జనమేజయుడు అడిగాడు—ఆ పరమ విపత్తులో పడిన మహాత్ములైన పాండవులతో పాటు అరణ్యానికి ఎవెవరు వెళ్లారు? అరణ్యంలో వారు ఏ ఆచార-నియమాలతో జీవించారు? వారు ఏమి భుజించారు? ఆ మహనీయుల నివాసస్థానం ఎక్కడ ఉండేది?

केwho (plural)
के:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
तान्them
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अन्ववर्तन्तfollowed
अन्ववर्तन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु + वृत्
FormImperfect, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada
प्राप्तान्having reached / having met with
प्राप्तान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र + आप् (प्राप्त)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
व्यसनम्calamity, misfortune
व्यसनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootव्यसन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
उत्तमम्great, extreme
उत्तमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
किम्what (kind of)
किम्:
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
आचाराःconduct, practices
आचाराः:
TypeNoun
Rootआचार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
किम्what (kind of)
किम्:
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
आहाराःfood, diet
आहाराः:
TypeNoun
Rootआहार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
क्वwhere
क्व:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्व
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वासःdwelling, residence
वासः:
TypeNoun
Rootवास
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महात्मनाम्of the great-souled (men)
महात्मनाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural

जनमेजय उवाच

J
Janamejaya
P
Pāṇḍavas
F
forest (vana)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames adversity as a test of dharma: even in extreme misfortune, the listener is invited to examine the Pāṇḍavas’ companions, disciplined conduct (ācāra), lawful means of sustenance (āhāra), and proper dwelling—signs of ethical steadiness under hardship.

Janamejaya, continuing his inquiry into the Pāṇḍavas’ exile, asks for concrete details: who went with them into the forest, how they lived there, what they ate, and where they stayed.