None: Chapter 2

The respectful treatment of the Pandavas towards Dhritarashtra

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं सम्पूजितो राजा पाण्डवैरम्बिकासुतः। विजहार यथापूर्वमृषिभिः पर्युपासितः॥
Thus adored by the Pandavas, the royal son of Ambika passed his time happily as before, waited upon and honoured by the Rishis.

ब्रह्मदेयाग्रहारांश्च प्रददौ स कुरूद्वहः। तच्च कुन्तीसुतो राजा सर्वमेवान्वपद्यत॥
That perpetuator of Kuru's race used to make those foremost of offerings which should be given to the Brahmanas. The royal son of Kunti always placed those articles at Dhritarashtra's command.

आनुशंस्यपरो राजा प्रीयमाणो युधिष्ठिरः। उवाच स तदा भ्रातृनमात्यांश्च महीपतिः॥ मया चैव भवद्भिश्च मान्य एष नराधिपः। निदेशे धृतराष्ट्रस्य यस्तिष्ठति स मे सुहृत्॥
Shorn of malice as king Yudhishthira was, he was always affectionate towards his uncle. Addressing his brothers and ministers, the king said, 'King Dhritarashtra should be honoured both by myself and you all. He, indeed, is a well-wisher of mine who obeys the commands of Dhritarasthra,

विपरीतश्च मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्च भवेन्नरः। पितृवृत्तेषु चाहःसु पुत्राणां श्राद्धकर्मणि॥ सुहृदां चैव सर्वेषां यावदस्य चिकीर्षितम्। ततः स राजा कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रो महामनाः॥ ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथार्हेभ्यो ददौ वित्तान्यनेकशः।
He, on the other hand, who treats him otherwise, is my enemy. Such a man should certainly be punished by me. On days of performing the rites ordained for the Pitris, as also in the Shraddhas performed for his sons and all well-wishers, the great Kuru king Dhritarashtra, gave away to Brahmanas, as each deserved immense quantity of wealth after his heart.

धर्मराजश्च भीमश्च सव्यसाची यमावपि॥ तत् सर्वमन्ववर्तन्त तस्य प्रियचिकीर्षया।
King Yudhishthira the just, and Bhima, and Arjuna, and the twins, desirous of doing what was liked by the old king, used to execute all his cominands.

कथं नु राजा वृद्धः स पुत्रपौत्रवधार्दितः॥ शोकमस्मत्कृतं प्राप्य न प्रियेतेति चिन्त्यते।
They always took care that the old king who was afflicted with the destruction of his sons and grandsons, with, that is, grief caused by the Pandavas themselves, might not die of his grief.

यावद्धि कुरुवीरस्य जीवत्पुत्रस्य वै सुखम्॥ बभूव तदवाप्नोति भोगांश्चेति व्यवस्थिताः।
Indeed, the Pandavas treated him in such a way that that Kuru hero might not be deprived of that happiness and all those articles of enjoyment which he had during his sons lifetime.

ततस्ते सहिताः पञ्च भ्रातरः पाण्डुनन्दनाः॥ तथाशीला: समातस्थुर्धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासने।
The five brothers, viz., the sons of Pandu, treated thus Dhritarashtra, living under his command.

धृतराष्ट्रश्च तान् सर्वान् विनीतान् नियमे स्थित्तान्॥ शिष्यवृत्तिं समापन्नान् गुरुवत् प्रत्यपद्यत।
Dhritarashtra also, seeing them so humble and obedient to his commands and acting towards him as disciples towards preceptors, treated them also like a loving preceptor in return.

गान्धारी चैव पुत्राणां विविधैः श्राद्धकर्मभिः॥ आनृण्यमगमत् कामान् विप्रेभ्यः प्रतिपाद्य सा।
Gandhari, by performing the various rites of the Sharaddha and making gifts to Brahmanas of various objects of enjoyment, became freed from the debt she owed to her slain children.

एवं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥ भ्रातृभिः सहितो धीमान् पूजयामास तं नृपम्।
Thus did that foremost of righteous men, viz., king Yudhishthira the just, endued with great intelligence, along with his brothers, adored king Dhritarashtra.

वैशम्पायन उवाच स राजा सुमहातेजा वृद्धः कुरुकुलोद्वहः॥ न ददर्श तदा किंचिदप्रियं पाण्डुनन्दने।
Vishampayana said Endued with great energy, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, viz., the old king Dhritarashtra, could not see any ill-will in Yudhishthira.

वर्तमानेषु सवत्तिं पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु॥ प्रीतिमानभवद् राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः।
Seeing that the great Pandavas were in the observance of a wise and righteous conduct, king Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, became pleased with them.

सौबलेयी च गान्धारी पुत्रशोकमपास्य तम्॥ सदैव प्रीतिमत्यासीत् तनयेषु निजेष्विव।
Subala's daughter, Gandhari, renouncing all sorrow for her (slain) children, began to show great love for the Pandavas as if they were her own children.

प्रियाण्येव तु कौरव्यो नाप्रियाणि कुरूद्वहः॥ वैचित्रवीर्ये नृपतौ समाचरत वीर्यवान्।
Gifted with great energy, the Kuru king Yudhishthira never did anything that was disliked by the royal son of Vichitravirya. On the other hand, he always treated him in a highly agreeable way.

यद् यद् ब्रूते च किंचित् स धृतराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः॥ गुरु वा लघु वा कार्यं गान्धारी च तपस्विनी। तं स राजा महाराज पाण्डवानां धुरंधरः॥ पूजयित्वा वचस्तत् तदकार्षीत् परवीरहा।
Whatever acts, grave or light, were directed by king Dhritarashtra or the helpless Gandhari to be done, were all done with respect, O monarch, by that destroyer of hostile heroes, viz., the Pandava king.

तेन तस्याभवत् प्रीतो वृत्तेन स नराधिपः॥ अन्वतप्यत संस्मृत्य पुत्रं तं मन्दचेतसम्।
The old king became highly pleased with such conduct of Yudhishthira. Indeed, he was grieved at the remembrance of his own wicked son.

सदा च प्रातरुत्थाय कृतजप्यः शुचिर्नृपः॥ आशास्ते पाण्डुपुत्राणां समरेष्वपराजयम्।
Rising every day at early dawn, he purified himself and went through his recitations, and then blessed the Pandavas by wishing them victory in battle.

ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाच्याथ हुत्वा चैव हुताशनम्॥२२ आयूंषि पाण्डुपुत्राणामाशंसत नराधिपः।
Making the usual gifts to the Brahmanas and making them utter benedictions, and pouring libations on the sacred fire, the old king prayed for long life to the Pandavas.

न तां प्रीतिं परामाप पुत्रेभ्यः स कुरूद्वहः॥ यां प्रीतिं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यः सदावाप नराधिपः।
Indeed, the king had never derived that great happiness from his own sons which he always did from the sons of Pandu.

ब्राह्मणानां यथावृत्तः क्षत्रियाणां यथाविधः॥ तथा विट्शूद्रसंघानामभवत् स प्रियस्तदा।
King Yudhishthria at that time became as agreeable to the Brahmanas the Kshatriyas, and the various bands of Vaishyas and Shudras of his kingdom.

यच्च किंचित् तदा पापं धृतराष्ट्रसुतैः कृतम्॥ अकृत्वा हृदि तत् पापं तं नृपं सोऽन्ववर्तत।
as to King Yudhishthira forgot whatever wrongs were done to him by the sons of Dhritarashtra, and saluted his uncle.

यश्च कश्चिन्नरः किंचिदप्रियं वाम्बिकासुते॥ कुरुते द्वेष्यतामेति स कौन्तेयस्य धीमतः। न राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य न च दुर्योधनस्य वै॥ उवाच दुष्कृतं कश्चिद् युधिष्ठिरभयानरः।
If any man did nay thing that was not liked by the son of Ambika, he became thereby an object of hatred to the intelligent son of Kunti. Indeed, through fear of Yudhishthira nobody could talk of the evil deeds of either Duryodhana or Dhritarashtra.

धृत्या तुष्टो नरेन्द्रः स गान्धारी विदुरस्तथा॥ शौचेन चाजातशत्रोर्न तु भीमस्य शत्रुहन्।
Both Gandhari and Vidura also were well pleased with the power which the king having no enemics showed for bearing wrongs. They were, however, not so pleased, O destroyer of foes, with Bhima.

अन्ववर्तत भीमोऽपि निश्चितो धर्मजं नृपम्॥ धृतराष्ट्रं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य सदा भवति दुर्मनाः।
Dharma's son Yudhishthira, was truly obedient to his uncle. Bhima, however, on seeing Dhritarashtra, became very dispirited.

राजानमनुवर्तन्तं धर्मपुत्रममित्रहा। अन्ववर्तत कौरव्यो हृदयेन पराङ्मुखः॥
That destroyer of enemies, secing Dharma's son pay his respects to the old king, saluted him outwardly with a very reluctant heart.