Shloka 42
Gāndhārī’s Battlefield Survey: The Fallen and the Onset of Funeral Rites (शल्य-भगीरथ-भीष्म-द्रोणादि-दर्शनम्)
गच्छन्त्यभिमुखा गड़्ां द्रोणशिष्या द्विजातय: । अपय्व्यां चितिं कृत्वा पुरस्कृत्य कृपी च ते,चिताकी अग्निमें अग्निहोत्रसहित द्रोणाचार्यको रखकर उनकी आहुति दे उन्हींके शिष्य द्विजातिगण कृपीको आगे और चिताको दायें करके गंगाजीके तटकी ओर जा रहे हैं
gacchanty abhimukhā gaṅgāṃ droṇaśiṣyā dvijātayaḥ | apavyaṃ citiṃ kṛtvā puraskṛtya kṛpī ca te ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“德罗那的两次生弟子们面向恒河而行。以克利毗为先，将柴堆置于右侧，如敬礼绕行一般继续前进——携持圣火，奉行对师长应尽的礼仪。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the wake of catastrophic violence, dharma requires honoring relationships and obligations—here, the disciples’ duty to their guru—through correct and respectful rites. The verse highlights reverence (keeping the pyre to the right, leading with the honored person) and the ethical continuity of ritual responsibility amid grief.
Droṇa’s disciples are taking the funeral pyre toward the river Gaṅgā for the concluding rites. They proceed with Kṛpī placed in front as the honored elder, and they keep the pyre to their right in a gesture of respect while moving toward the riverbank.