युधिष्ठिर उवाच एवमेतत् करिष्यामि यथाऽऽत्थ पृथिवीपते। भूयश्चैवानुशास्योऽहं भवता पार्थिवर्षभ॥
Yudhishthira said O king, I shall do as you order me. O foremost of kings, I should be be further instructed by you.
भीष्मे स्वर्गमनुप्राप्ते गते च मधुसूदने। विदुरे संजये चैव कोऽन्यो मां वक्तुमर्हति॥
Bhishma has ascended to Heaven. The destroyer of Madhu, has departed (for Dwraka). Vidura and Sanjaya, also (will accompany you to the forest). Who else, therefore, save you, will teach me.
यत् तु मामनुशास्तीह भवानद्य हिते स्थितः कर्तास्मि तन्महीपाल निर्वृतो भव पार्थिव॥
I shall, certainly, follow those instructions which you have today given, desirous of doing good to me. O lord of Earth. Be you assured of this, O king.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिर्धर्मराजेन धीमता। कौन्तेयं समनुज्ञातुमियेष भरतर्षभ॥
Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by the highly intelligent and just king Yudhishthira, the royal sage, Dhritarashtra, O chief of the Bharatas, wished to obtain the king's permission.
पुत्र संशाम्यतां तावन्ममापि बलवाश्रमः। इत्युक्त्वा प्राविशद् राजा गान्धार्या भवनं तदा॥
And he said, 'Cease, O son. I have been। tired greatly.' Having said these words, the old king entered the apartments of Gandhari.
तमासनगतं देवी गान्धारी धर्मचारिणी। उवाच काले कालज्ञा प्रजापतिसमं पतिम्॥ अनुज्ञातः स्वयं तेन व्यासेन त्वं महर्षिणा। युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते कदारण्यं गमिष्यसि॥
Pious Gandhari knowing the opportune moments, said these timely words to that husband of hers who resembled a second Lord of all creatures, while resting on a seat :—'You have got the permission of that great Rishis, viz., Vyasa himself. When, however, will you go to the forest, with the permission of Yudhishthira?
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच गान्धार्यहमनुज्ञातः स्वयं पित्रा महात्मना। युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते गन्तास्मि नचिराद् वनम्॥
Dhritarashtra said O Gandhari, I have received the permission of my great sire. With the permission of Yudhishthira (next obtained), I shall soon retire into the forest.
अहं हि तावत् सर्वेषां तेषां दुर्दूतदेविनाम्। पुत्राणां दातुमिच्छामि प्रेतभावानुगं वसु॥ सर्वप्रकृतिसांनिध्यं कारयित्वा स्ववेश्मनि।
I wish, however, to give away some riches capable of following the status of Preta, for all those sons of mine who were addicted to calamitous dice. Indeed, I wish to make those gifts, inviting all the people to my palace.
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजाय प्रेषयामास वै तदा।॥ स च तद्वचनात् सर्वे समानिन्ये महीपतिः।
Vaishampayana said Having said so (to Gandhari), Dhritarashtra sent for Yudhishthira. The latter, ordered by his uncle, brought all the articles necessary.
ततः प्रतीतमनसो ब्राह्मणाः कुरुजाङ्गलाः॥ क्षत्रियाश्चैव वैश्याश्च शूद्राश्चैव समाययुः।
Many Brahmanas living in Kurujangala, many Kshatriyas, many Vaishyas, and many Shudras also, came to Dhritarashtra' place, with gratified hearts.
ततो निष्कम्य नृपतिस्तस्मादन्तः पुरात् तदा॥ ददृशे तं जनं सर्वे सर्वाश्च प्रकृतीस्तथा।
The old king, coming out of the inner apartments saw them all as also his subjects collected together.
समवेतांश्च तान् सर्वान् पौरान् जानपदांस्तथा॥ तानागतानभिप्रेक्ष्य समस्तं च सुहृज्जनम्। ब्राह्मणांश्र महीपाल नानादेशसमागतान्॥ उवाच मतिमान् राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। भवन्तः कुरवश्चैव चिरकालं सहोषिताः॥ परस्परस्य सुहृदः परस्परहिते रताः।
Seeing all those assembled and citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, and his wellwishers also thus collected together, and the large number of Brahmanas arrived from various kingdoms, king Dhritarashtra of great intelligence, O monarch, said these words :-'You all and the Kurus have lived together for many long years, well-wishers of each other, and each doing good to the other.
यदिदानीमहं ब्रूयामस्मिन् काल उपस्थिते॥ तथा भवद्भिः कर्तव्यमविचार्य वचो मम।
What I shall now say in view of the opportunity that has come, should be done by you all even as disciples accomplish the orders of their preceptors.
अरण्यगमने बुद्धिर्गान्धारीसहितस्य मे॥ व्यासस्यानुमते राज्ञस्तथा कुन्तीसुतस्य मे।
I have set my heart upon retiring into the forest, along with Gandhari as my companion. Vyasa has approved of this, also the son of Kunti.
भवन्तोऽप्यनुजानन्त मा च वोऽभूद् विचारणा॥ अस्माकं भवतां चैव येयं प्रीतिर्हि शाश्वती। न च सान्येषु देशेषु राज्ञामिति मतिर्मम॥ शान्तोऽस्मि वयसानेन तथा पुत्रविनाकृतः।
Let me have your permission too. Do not hesitate in this. That good will, which has always existed between you and us, is not to be seen, I believe, in other kingdoms, between the rulers and the ruled. I am worn out with age on my head. I am destitute of children.
उपवासकृशश्चास्मि गान्धारीसहितोऽनघाः॥ युधिष्ठिरगते राज्ये प्राप्तश्चास्मि सुखं महत्।
You sinless ones, I am emaciated with fasts, along with Gandhari. The kingdom having passed to Yudhishthira, I have enjoyed great happiness.
मन्ये दुर्योधनैश्वर्याद् विशिष्टमिति सत्तमाः॥ मम चान्धस्य वृद्धस्य हतपुत्रस्य का गतिः। ऋते वनं महाभागास्तन्मानुज्ञातुमर्हथ॥
You foremost of men, I think that happiness has been greater than what I could expect from Duryodhana's sovereignty. What other refuge can I have, old as a I am and destitute of children, except the forest? You highly blessed ones, you should grant me the perinission 1 seek.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते कुरुजाङ्गलाः। वाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा रुरुदुर्भरतर्षभ॥
Hearing those words of his, all the residents of Kurujangala bewailed aloud, O best of the Bharatas, with voices choked by tears.
तानविब्रुवतः किंचित् सर्वाशोकपरायणान्। पुनरेव महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽव्रीदिदम्॥
Desirous of telling those grief stricken people something more, the highly energetic Dhritarashtra once more addressed them and said as follows.