Shloka 53
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
ततः स व्रतिभि: शिष्यैस्तपोयुक्तैर्महातपा: । वृत: प्रायान्महाबाहुर्महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्
tataḥ sa vratibhiḥ śiṣyais tapoyuktair mahātapāḥ | vṛtaḥ prāyān mahābāhur mahendraṃ parvatottamam ||
پھر وہ عظیم تپسوی، قوی بازو درون، برہمچریہ ورت پر قائم اور تپسیا میں رَت اپنے شاگردوں سے گھِرا ہوا، پہاڑوں میں افضل مہندر پہاڑ کی طرف روانہ ہوا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic discipline: vows (vrata), austerity (tapas), and the teacher–disciple community. Ethical strength is shown as arising from self-restraint and committed study, which enable purposeful action and higher pursuits.
The narrator states that the great ascetic, accompanied by vow-keeping, austerity-practicing disciples, departs and goes to Mahendra—described as an excellent mountain—marking a transition to an episode connected with that sacred/remote location.