ततस् तद् आज्ञाय मतं महात्मा; तेषां स धर्मस्य सुतो वरिष्ठः ॥
प्रदक्षिणं वैश्रवणाधिवासं; चकार धर्मार्थविद् उत्तमौजः ॥
आमन्त्र्य वेश्मानि नदीः सरांसि; सर्वाणि रक्षांसि च धर्मराजः ॥
यथागतं मार्गम् अवेक्षमाणः; पुनर् गिरिं चैव निरीक्षमाणः ॥
समाप्तकर्मा सहितः सुहृद्भिर्; जित्वा सपत्नान् प्रतिलभ्य राज्यम् ॥
शैलेन्द्र भूयस् तपसे धृतात्मा; द्रष्टा तवास्मीति मतिं चकार ॥
वृतः स सर्वैर् अनुजैर् द्विजैश् च; तेनैव मार्गेण पतिः कुरूणाम् ॥
उवाह चैनान् सगणांस् तथैव; घटोत्कचः पर्वतनिर्झरेषु ॥
तान् प्रस्थितान् प्रीतिमना महर्षिः; पितेव पुत्रान् अनुशिष्य सर्वान् ॥
स लोमशः प्रीतमना जगाम; दिवौकसां पुण्यतमं निवासम् ॥
तेनानुशिष्टार्ष्टिषेणेन चैव; तीर्थानि रम्याणि तपोवनानि ॥
महान्ति चान्यानि सरांसि पार्थाः; संपश्यमानाः प्रययुर् नराग्र्याः ॥
tatas tad ājñāya mataṃ mahātmā; teṣāṃ sa dharmasya suto variṣṭhaḥ ||
pradakṣiṇaṃ vaiśravaṇādhivāsaṃ; cakāra dharmārthavid uttamaujaḥ ||
āmantrya veśmāni nadīḥ sarāṃsi; sarvāṇi rakṣāṃsi ca dharmarājaḥ ||
yathāgataṃ mārgam avekṣamāṇaḥ; punar giriṃ caiva nirīkṣamāṇaḥ ||
samāptakarmā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhir; jitvā sapatnān pratilabhya rājyam ||
śailendra bhūyas tapase dhṛtātmā; draṣṭā tavāsmīti matiṃ cakāra ||
vṛtaḥ sa sarvair anujair dvijaiś ca; tenaiva mārgeṇa patiḥ kurūṇām ||
uvāha cainān sagaṇāṃs tathaiva; ghaṭotkacaḥ parvatanirjhareṣu ||
tān prasthitān prītimanā maharṣiḥ; piteva putrān anuśiṣya sarvān ||
sa lomaśaḥ prītamanā jagāma; divaukasāṃ puṇyatamaṃ nivāsam ||
tenānuśiṣṭārṣṭiṣeṇena caiva; tīrthāni ramyāṇi tapovanāni ||
mahānti cānyāni sarāṃsi pārthāḥ; saṃpaśyamānāḥ prayayur narāgryāḥ ||
'Understanding their intent, the great-souled son of Dharma, knowing both dharma and worldly benefit, circumambulated the abode of Vaishravana keeping it to his right. The Dharmaraja bade farewell to the palaces, rivers, lakes, and all the rakshasas, looking back upon the path by which he had come, and once more gazing at the mountain. He resolved: "When my task is accomplished, when I have defeated my rivals with the help of my friends and regained my kingdom, then, master of myself, I shall see you again, king of mountains, for the sake of austerity." Surrounded by all his younger brothers and the twice-born, the lord of the Kurus set out along the same path. Ghatotkacha, with his retinue, carried them across the mountain torrents. The pleased Lomasha instructed them all, as a father instructs his sons, and departed for the holiest abode of the celestials. Instructed by him and by Arshtishena, the foremost of men, the Parthas journeyed on, beholding lovely holy fords, forests of austerity, and other great lakes.'
71f288de3fc3 · published Jul 16, 2026, 5:12:44 PM UTC
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Yudhishthira departs not as one who has renounced the sacred place, but as one who promises to return once his duty is fulfilled. Pilgrimage does not replace royal duty.