Shloka 155
Rājarṣi-samāgamaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharma-parīkṣā ca
Meeting the Royal Sage and a Dharmic Audit
इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि तीर्थयात्रापर्वणि लोमशतीर्थयात्रायां सौगन्धिकाहरणे पजञ्चपञ्चाशदधिकशततमोड< ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi tīrthayātrāparvaṇi lomaśatīrthayātrāyāṃ saugandhikāharaṇe pañcapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
Kaya, sa Śrī Mahābhārata, sa loob ng Vana Parva—lalo na sa bahaging Tīrthayātrā Parva—sa salaysay ng banal na paglalakbay ni Lomaśa, sa yugto tungkol sa pagdadala ng mababangong bulaklak na saugandhika—nagtatapos ang ika-isang daan at limampu’t limang kabanata. Ito ay isang colophon na nagmamarka ng pagsasara ng isang yunit ng salaysay, inilalagay ang pangyayaring ito sa mas malawak na balangkas-etikal ng paglalakbay-dambana, pagpipigil, at pagsubok sa pagnanasa at pagmamataas sa gitna ng pagkatapon.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
As a colophon, the verse itself teaches by framing the episode within a sacred itinerary: pilgrimage is not merely travel but a discipline that contextualizes actions (like seeking rare pleasures) within dharma—encouraging restraint, humility, and ethical reflection during hardship.
This line closes a chapter and identifies its placement: during the Pāṇḍavas’ forest exile, Lomāśa narrates a pilgrimage sequence, and this particular unit concerns the obtaining of saugandhika flowers; the verse functions as an editorial/narrative marker rather than direct dialogue.