वैशम्पायन उवाच तं व्यतीतमतिक्रम्य राजा स्वमिव बान्धवम्। सभार्यः शोकदुःखार्तः पर्यदेवयदातुरः॥
Vaishampayana said : After the death of the deer, the king (Pandu) like a friend (of his) wept bitterly with his wives, being much afflicted with grief.
पाण्डुरुवाच सतामपि कुले जाताः कर्मणा वत दुर्गतिम्। प्राप्नुवन्त्यकृतात्मानः कामजालविमोहिताः॥
Pandu said: The wicked men, though born in virtuous families, being illuded with passions, become overwhelmed with misery as the fruit of their own acts.
शश्वद्धर्मात्मना जातो बाल एव पिता मम। जीवितान्तमनुप्राप्तः कामात्मैवेति नः श्रुतम्॥ ।
I have heard that my father, though begotten by a virtuous man, died when he was still a youth, only because a slave of lust.
तस्य कामात्मनः क्षेत्रे राज्ञः संयतवागृषिः। कृष्णद्वैपायन: साक्षाद् भगवान् मामजीजनत्॥
In the field of that lustful king, I was begotten by Krishna Dvaipayana of truthfull speech who was like Brahma himself.
तस्याद्य व्यसने बुद्धिः संजातेयं ममाधमा। त्यक्तस्य देवैरनयान्मृगयां परिधावतः॥
(Being the son of such a man) with my heart devoted to sin I lead wandering life in pursuit of deer. The gods have all forsaken me.
मोक्षमेव व्यवस्यामि बन्धो हि व्यसनं महत्। सुवृत्तिमनुवर्तिष्ये तामहं पितुरव्ययाम्॥
I shall now seek for salvation; my heart is a great slave of passion. The great impediments to salvation is the desire to beget children. I shall now adopt Brahmacharya, following the example of my father.
अतीव तपसाऽऽत्मानं योजयिष्याम्यसंशयम्। तस्मादेकोऽहमेकाकी एकैकस्मिन् वनस्पतौ॥ चरन् भैक्ष्यं मुनिर्मुण्डश्चरिष्याम्याश्रमानिमान्। पांसुना समवच्छन्नः शून्यागारकृतालयः॥ वृक्षमूलनिकेतो वा त्यक्तसर्वप्रियाप्रियः।
I shall certainly bring my passions under complete control by severe asceticism. Forsaking my wives and other relatives and shaving my head, I shall alone wander over the earth, begging my food from the lords of the forests (tree). Forsaking every object of affection and aversion and covering my body with dust, I shall make the shelter of trees and deserted houses my home.
न शोचन् न प्रहृष्यंश्च तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः॥ निराशीर्निर्नमस्कारो निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः।
I shall never yield to the influence of sorrow or joy; I shall regard praise and blame in the same light; I shall not seek benedictions or bows. I shall be in peace with all; I shall not accept gifts.
न चाप्यवहसन् कच्चिन्न कुर्वन् भृकुटी क्वचित्॥ प्रसन्नवदनो नित्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतः।
I shall not mock any one; I shall not contract my brow at any body; I shall be ever cheerful; and I shall be devoted to the good of all creatures.
जङ्गमाजङ्गमं सर्वमविहिंसंश्चतुर्विधम्॥ स्वासु प्रजास्विव सदा समः प्राणभृतां प्रति।
I shall not harm any of the four orders of the creation, either mobile or immobile. I shall treat them all equally, as if they are my own children.
एककालं चरन् भैक्ष्यं कुलानि दश पञ्च वा॥ असम्भवे वा भक्ष्यस्य चरन्ननशनान्यपि।
I shall daily beg my food from only five or ten families. If it is impossible to get food thus, I shall remain fasting I shall rather go with little food then to ask a man twice.
अल्पमल्पं च भुञ्जानः पूर्वालाभे न जातुचित्॥ अन्यान्यपि चरँल्लोभादलाभे सप्त पूरयन्। अलाभे यदि वा लाभे समदर्शी महातपाः॥
If I do not obtain food after completing my round of seven or ten houses, I shall not enlarge my round out of covetousness. Whether I obtain or fail to obtain alms, I shall remain a great ascetic equally unmoved.
वास्यैकं तक्षतो बाहुं चन्दनेनैकमुक्षतः। नाकल्याणं न कल्याणं चिन्तयन्नुभयोस्तयोः॥ न जिजीविषुवत् किंचिन्न मुमूर्षुवदाचरन्। जीवितं मरणं चैव नाभिनन्दन् न च द्विषन्॥
The cutting off my one arm with an axe and the smearing of the other with sandal, both will be equally regarded by me as the same. I shall not desire good from one or evil from the other. I shall not be pleased with life or displeased with death. I shall neither wish to live or fear to die.
याः काश्चिज्जीवता शक्याः कर्तुमभ्युदयक्रियाः। ताः सर्वाः समतिक्रम्य निमेषादिव्यवस्थिताः॥ तासु चाष्यनवस्थासु त्यक्तसर्वेन्द्रियक्रियः। सम्परित्यक्तधर्मार्थः सुनिर्णिक्तात्मकल्मषः॥
Washing my heart of all sins, I shall certainly transcend those sacred rites productive of happiness that men perform at inauspicious moments. I shall also abstain from all acts of Dharma and Artha and from all those acts those that lead to the gratification of senses.
निर्मुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो व्यतीतः सर्ववागुराः। न वशे कस्यचित् तिष्ठन् सधर्मा मातरिश्वनः॥
Being freed from all sins and snares of the world, I shall be as free as the wind.
एतया सततं धृत्या चरन्नेवंप्रकारया। देहं संस्थापयिष्यामि निर्भयं मार्गमास्थितः॥
Acting always in this way and treading in the path of fearlessness, I shall at last lay down my life.
नाहं सुकृपणे मार्गे स्ववीर्यक्षयशोचिते। स्वधर्मात् सततापेते चरेयं वीर्यवर्जितः॥
I am destitute of the power of begetting children. I shall not certainly deviate from the line of duty, in order to tread in the vile path of the world which is full of misery.
सत्कृतोऽसत्कृतो वापि योऽन्यं कृपणचक्षुषा। उपैति वृत्तिं कामात्मा स शुनां वर्तते पथि॥
Whether respected or disrespected by the world, that man, who, being desireless, becomes full of desire, behaves like a dog.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा सुदुःखार्तो निःश्वासपरमो नृपः। अवेक्षमाणः कुन्तीं च माद्रीं स समभाषत॥
Vaishampayana said : The king, having said this in sorrow, signed and looking at (his wives) Kunti and Madri said-
कौसल्या विदुरः क्षत्ता राजा च सह बन्धुभिः। आर्या सत्यवती भीष्मस्ते च राजपुरोहिताः॥ ब्राह्मणाश्च महात्मानः सोमपाः संशितव्रताः। पौरवृद्धाश्च ये तत्र निवसन्त्यस्मदाश्रयाः। प्रसाद्य सर्वे वक्तव्याः पाण्डुः प्रव्रजितो वनम्॥
After gratifying all, tell the princess of Koshala, Vidura, the king with all his friends mother Satyavati, Bhishma, the royal priests, the high-souled, Soma drinking Brahmans of rigid vows and those old men who live under our protection that 'Pandu has retired into a forest'.
निशम्य वचनं भर्तुर्वनवासे धृतात्मनः। तत्समं वचनं कुन्ती माद्री च समभाषताम्॥
Having heard these words of their husband who had fixed his mind to retire into a forest, both Kunti and Madri addressed him in these proper words.
अन्येऽपि ह्याश्रमाः सन्ति ये शक्या भरतर्षभ। आवाभ्यां धर्मपत्नीभ्यां सह तप्तुं तपो महत्॥
“O best of the Bharata race, there are many other Ashramas (modes of life) in which you can perform with us, your lawfully wedded wives, great asceticism.
शरीरस्यापि मोक्षाय स्वयं प्राप्य महाफलम्। त्वमेव भविता भर्ता स्वर्गस्यापि न संशयः॥
In which you can obtain the salvation of your body, you may obtain heaven as your reward. As the great fruit (of your action) you can certainly become the lord of heaven.
प्रणिधायेन्द्रियग्रामं भर्तृलोकपरायणे। त्यक्तकामसुखे ह्यावां तप्स्यावो विपुलं तपः॥
We shall also perform great asceticism with our husband, controlling our passions and abandoning all desires and pleasures.
यदि चावां महाप्राज्ञ त्यक्ष्यसि त्वं विशाम्पते। अद्यैवावां प्रहास्यावो जीवितं नात्र संशयः॥
O greatly learned man, if you abandon us, we shall then certainly give up our lives to day.
पाण्डुरुवाच यदि व्यवसितं ह्येतद् युवयोधर्मसंहितम्। स्ववृत्तिमनुवर्तिष्ये तामहं पितुरव्ययाम्॥
Pandu said: If your this determination be conformable to virtue, then I shall with you both follow the imperishable path of my father.
त्यक्त्वा ग्राम्यसुखाहारं तप्यमानो महत् तपः। वल्कली फलमूलाशी चरिष्यामि महावने॥
Abandoning the luxuries of village and towns, robed in barks of trees and living on fruits and roots and practicing the severest asceticism, I shall roam in the great forest.
अग्नौ जुह्वन्नुभौ कालावुभौ कालावुपस्पृशन्। कृशः परिमिताहारश्चीरचर्मजटाधरः॥
Bathing in the morning and in the evening, I shall perform the Homa. I shall reduce my body by eating sparingly; I shall wear rags and skins; I shall carry matted hair on my head.
शीतवातातपसहः क्षुत्पिपासानवेक्षकः। तपसा दुश्चरेणेदं शरीरमुपशोषयन्॥ एकान्तशीली विमृशन् पक्वापक्वेन वर्तयन्। पितॄन् देवांश्च वन्येन वाग्भिरद्धिश्च तर्पयन्।३५॥
Exposing myself to heat and cold and disregarding hunger and thirst, I shall reduce my body by performing most difficult asceticism. I shall live on fruits, ripe or unripe; I shall be in contemplation; I shall worship the Pitris and the celestial with speech and with the fruit of the forest.
वानप्रस्थजनस्यापि दर्शनं कुलवासिनाम्। नाप्रियाण्याचरिष्यामि किं पुनर्गमवासिनाम्॥
I shall not see the dwellers of cities or the dwellers of forest. I shall not even harm them (the dwellers of forest), not to speak of the dwellers of villages.
एवमारण्यशास्त्राणामुग्रमुग्रतरं विधिम्। काइक्षमाणोऽहमास्थास्ये देहस्यास्या समापनात्॥
I shall thus perform the severest practices of Vanaprastha, performing the severer ones gradually, till lay down my body.
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्येवमुक्त्वा भार्ये ते राजा कौरवनन्दनः। ततश्चूडामणि निष्कमङ्गदे कुण्डलानि च॥ वासांसि च महार्हाणि स्त्रीणामाभरणानि च। प्रदाय सर्वं विप्रेभ्यः पाण्डुः पुनरभाषत॥
Vaishampayana said : Having said this to his wives, the descendant of Kuru, the king (Pandu), gave his jewel of the diadem, his necklace of precious gold, his bracelets, his car rings, his valuable robes and the ornaments of the ladies to the Brahmanas. He then said-
गत्वा नागपुरं वाच्यं पाण्डुः प्रव्रजितो वनम्। अर्थ कामं सुखं चैव रतिं च परमात्मिकाम्॥ प्रतस्थे सर्वमुत्सृज्य सभार्यः कुरुनन्दनः। ततस्तस्यानुयातारस्ते चैव परिचारकाः॥
"Going to Hastinapur, inform all that Pandu, the descendant of Kuru, has retired into the forest with his wives, abandoning wealth, desires, happiness and sexual appetite.” Then assembled followers and attendants.
श्रुत्वा भरतसिंहस्य विविधाः करुणा गिरः। भीममार्तस्वरं कृत्वा हाहेति परिचुक्रुशुः॥
Hearing these and other sorrowful words of that lion of the Bharata race, bewailed in grief and cried, "Alas! O!"
उष्णमश्रु विमुञ्चन्तस्तं विहाय महीपतिम्। ययुर्नागपुरं तूर्णं सर्वमादाय तद् धनम्॥
They shed hot tears to leave the king. They left that forest and went to Hastinapur, taking all the wealth with them.
ते गत्वा नगरं राज्ञो यथावृत्तं महात्मनः। कथयांचक्रिरे राज्ञस्तद् धनं विविधं ददुः॥
Going to the city, they told the illustrious king all that had happened and they gave him all the wealth.
श्रुत्वा तेभ्यस्ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तं महावने। धृतराष्ट्रो नरश्रेष्ठः पाण्डुमेवान्वशोचत॥
Having heard all that had happened in the great forest, the best of men, king Dhritarashtra, wept for Pandu.
न शय्यासनभोगेषु रतिं विन्दति कर्हिचित्। भ्रातृशोकसमाविष्टस्तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्॥
He derived no pleasure in the comforts of his beds, seats and luxuries. Afflicted with the loss of his brother, he continually brooded over it.
राजपुत्रस्तु कौरव्य पाण्डुर्मूलफलाशनः। जगाम सह पत्नीभ्यां ततो नागशतं गिरिम्॥
The descendant of Kuru, the royal prince (Pandu), living on fruits and roots went with his two wives to the Nagashata mountains.
स चैत्ररथमासाद्य कालकूटमतीत्य च। हिमवन्तमतिक्रम्य प्रययौ गन्धमादनम्॥
He then went to Chaitraratha and then to Kalakuta. Crossing the Himalayas, he went to Gandhamadana.
रक्ष्यमाणो महाभूतैः सिद्धेश्च परमर्षिभिः। उवास स महाराज समेषु विषमेषु च॥ इन्द्रद्युम्नसरः प्राप्य हंसकूटमतीत्य च। शतशृङ्गे महाराज तापस: समतप्यत॥
Protected by Mahabhutas, Siddhas and great Rishis, that great king lived sometimes on the plain and sometimes on the hills. He then went to the lake Indradyumna; and then crossing the Hansakuta, the great king performed his penances on the mountain with hundred peaks.