Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 6
स निर्ययौ गजपुराद् याजकैः परिवारित: । दृष्टवा निवृत्तमादित्यं प्रवृत्तं चोत्तरायणम्
sa niryayau gajapurād yājakaiḥ parivāritaḥ | dṛṣṭvā nivṛttam ādityaṃ pravṛttaṃ cottarāyaṇam ||
毗湿摩波衍那说道：在祭司们簇拥之下，他自俱卢之城哈斯蒂那补罗启程。见太阳已止南行而入北行（乌多罗耶那），他便出发——使所行与吉祥的宇宙秩序及祭仪法度相契合。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights acting in alignment with dharma through attention to auspicious timing and ritual order: major undertakings are ideally begun when cosmic signs (like the Sun’s northward course) indicate a favorable, orderly season, and with proper priestly guidance.
A principal figure departs from Hastināpura (called Gajapura), accompanied by priests. He does so after observing that the Sun has shifted from the southern course (Dakṣiṇāyana) to the northern course (Uttarāyaṇa), marking an auspicious transition for commencing a significant action.