Vyasa

Aranyaka Parva

Can Yudhishthira overcome his grief and find spiritual merit through pilgrimage?

Pulastya instructs Yudhishthira on the sacred tirthas and their purifying powers, and Lomasa continues the narration, advising Yudhishthira on dharma. Yudhishthira accepts the proposal to visit the tirthas, dismisses his followers, and departs with his brothers and Draupadi, beginning their pilgrimage.

13 stories · 0 pivotal · Chapters 378389

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Causal position

How this arc sits in the story chain

Born from

Arjuna's Quest for Divine Weapons

Indra instructs Lomasha to return to earth, convey a message of reassurance to Yudhishthira, and protect him during his pilgrimage; Lomasha agrees and this directly causes him to later report Arjuna's progress to Yudhishthira.

The Pandavas' Exile and the Great Dharma Debate

Yudhishthira sends Arjuna to obtain divine weapons; Arjuna's subsequent journey leads him to Indra's heaven, where Lomasha sees him sharing Indra's throne and obtaining weapons, which is the content of Lomasha's report to Yudhishthira.

This Arc

Pulastya and Lomasa Instruct Yudhishthira on Tirtha Pilgrimage

Leads into

Stories

Showing essential stories

Spine stories carry the arc's main thread. Essential adds key turning points. Supporting covers depth and backstory.