Mahabharata · 1.117.32–33
॥
Devanāgarī
एवम् उक्त्वा कुरून् सर्वान् कुरूणाम् एव पश्यताम् ॥
क्षणेनान्तर्हिताः सर्वे चारणा गुह्यकैः सह ॥
गन्धर्वनगराकारं तत्रैवान्तर्हितं पुनः ॥
ऋषिसिद्धगणं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं ते परं ययुः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
evam uktvā kurūn sarvān kurūṇām eva paśyatām ||
kṣaṇenāntarhitāḥ sarve cāraṇā guhyakaiḥ saha ||
gandharvanagarākāraṃ tatraivāntarhitaṃ punaḥ ||
ṛṣisiddhagaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ te paraṃ yayuḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
एवम् उक्त्वा कुरून् सर्वान् कुरूणाम् एव पश्यताम्evam uktvā kurūn sarvān kurūṇām eva paśyatāmso having said to all the Kurus, in the very sight of the Kurus
क्षणेन अन्तर्हिताः सर्वे चारणाः गुह्यकैः सहkṣaṇena antarhitāḥ sarve cāraṇāḥ guhyakaiḥ sahain an instant all the charanas vanished together with the guhyakas;
गन्धर्वनगराकारं तत्र एव अन्तर्हितं पुनःgandharvanagarākāraṃ tatra eva antarhitaṃ punaḥ[that host,] resembling a vision of the city of the gandharvas, having vanished there once more,
ऋषिसिद्धगणं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं ते परं ययुःṛṣisiddhagaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ te paraṃ yayuḥhaving seen [how] the host of sages and siddhas [vanished], they fell into utter astonishment
क्षणेनान्तर्हिताःkṣaṇenāntarhitāḥoriginal form "kṣaṇenāntarhitāḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चारणाcāraṇāoriginal form "cāraṇā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तत्रैवान्तर्हितंtatraivāntarhitaṃoriginal form "tatraivāntarhitaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Having spoken thus to all the Kurus, before the very eyes of the Kurus, all the charanas vanished in an instant together with the guhyakas; and, seeing that host of sages and siddhas, resembling a vision of the city of the gandharvas, vanish there as well, they were struck with the utmost astonishment.
Version
fabfeb3b581b · published Jul 12, 2026, 4:41:49 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the holy ones, having fulfilled their duty, wondrously vanish. The comparison to the "city of the gandharvas" (gandharva-nagara) — a mirage, a phantom vision — is significant: the appearance and disappearance of this host of holy ones was marvelous, not of this world. Here is confirmation of their heavenly nature: these were no ordinary wanderers but celestials who had descended for a time to fulfill the will of providence — to deliver and bear witness to the sons of the gods. It is significant that, having accomplished their charge, they depart at once, seeking neither reward nor honor: such is the selflessness of the holy. Thus the handing over of the Pandavas to the Kuru line is completed: orphaned, yet marked by heavenly testimony, they enter Hastinapura — and from here the great tale takes a new turn, now amid the thick of human passions and coming enmity.