Shloka 46
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
Devanagari script
उदीची पुनरावृत्य ययुर्भरतसत्तमा: | प्रादक्षिण्यं चिकीर्षन्त: पृथिव्या योगधर्मिण:
Transliteration
udīcīṃ punarāvṛtya yayur bharatasattamāḥ | prādakṣiṇyaṃ cikīrṣantaḥ pṛthivyā yogadharmiṇaḥ ||
Translation
于是，婆罗多族之最上者复转向北方而行。安住于瑜伽之法者，欲以吉祥之右旋（pradakṣiṇa）完成环绕大地之行，以示敬畏与自制，迈向其终末之旅。
Word by Word
उदीचीम्northward direction
उदीचीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootउदीची (दिक्शब्दः)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
आवृत्यhaving turned/returned
आवृत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-वृत्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
ययुःthey went
ययुः:
TypeVerb
Rootया
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
भरत-सत्तमाःthe best of the Bharatas
भरत-सत्तमाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभरत + सत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रादक्षिण्यम्circumambulation (keeping to the right)
प्रादक्षिण्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रादक्षिण्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
चिकीर्षन्तःwishing to do
चिकीर्षन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formशतृ (present active participle, desiderative stem), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
पृथिव्याःof the earth
पृथिव्याः:
TypeNoun
Rootपृथिवी
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
योग-धर्मिणःabiding in yogic discipline
योग-धर्मिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootयोग + धर्मिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
P
Pāṇḍavas (implied by bharatasattamāḥ)P
Pṛthivī (Earth)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
The verse highlights disciplined detachment: even at the end of life, the Pāṇḍavas act with reverence and restraint, framing their movement as prādakṣiṇā—an ethical, devotional orientation rather than worldly conquest.
On their great departure, the Pāṇḍavas turn again toward the north and continue traveling, intending to complete a clockwise circumambulation of the earth while remaining established in yogic discipline.