वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तास्तु ते तेन पौरजानपदा जनाः। वृद्धेन राज्ञा कौरव्य नष्टसंज्ञा इवाभवन्॥
Thus addressed, O you of Kuru's race, by the old king, the citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces stood sometime like men shorn of consciousness.
तूष्णीम्भूतांस्ततस्तांस्तु बाष्पकण्ठान् महीपतिः। धृतराष्ट्रो महीपालः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत॥ वृद्धं च हतपुत्रं च धर्मपल्या सहानया। विलपन्तं बहुविधं कृपणं चैव सत्तमाः॥ पित्रा स्वयमनुज्ञातं कृष्णद्वैपायनेन वै। वनवासाय धर्मज्ञा धर्मज्ञेन नृपेण ह॥
King Dhritarashtra, finding thein silent, with their throats choked by grief, once more addressed them, saying, 'You best of men, old as I am, and sonless and through cheerlessness of heart, bewailing along with this my wedded wife, I have obtained the permission, in the matter of my retirement into the forest, of my sire, the Island-born Krishna himself, as also of king Yudhishthira, who knows every duty, you righteous dwellers of this kingdom.
सोऽहं पुनः पुनश्चैव शिरसावनतोऽनघाः। गान्धार्या सहितं तन्मां समनुज्ञातुमर्हथ॥
You sinless ones, I with Gandhari, repeatedly solicit you with bent heads, You should all grant us permission.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा कुरुराजस्य वाक्यानि करुणानि ते। सर्वशो राजन् समेताः कुरुजाङ्गलाः॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing these pitiable words of the Kuru king, O monarch, the assembled dwellers of Kurujangala all began to weep.
उत्तरीयैः करैश्चापि संच्छाद्य वदनानि ते। रुरुदुः शोकसंतप्ता मुहूर्तं पितृमातृवत्॥
Covering their faces with their hands and upper garments, all those men, burning with grief, wept for a while as father sand mothers would weep.
हृदयैः शून्यभूतैस्ते धृतराष्ट्रप्रवासजम्। दुःखं संधारयन्तो हि नष्टसंज्ञा इवाभवन्॥
Bearing in their hearts, from which every other thoughts had been removed, the sorrow born of Dhritarashtra's desire to leave the world, they looked like men shorn of consciousness.
ते विनीय तमायासं धृतराष्ट्रवियोगजम्। शनैः शनैस्तदान्योन्यमब्रुवन् सम्मतान्युत॥
Checking that agitation of heart due to the announcement of Dhritarashtra's desire of going to the forest, they gradually were able to address one another, expressing their wishes.
ततः संधाय ते सर्वे वाक्यान्यथ समासतः। एकस्मिन् ब्राह्मणे राजन् निवेश्योचुनराधिपम्॥
Setting their words briefly, O king, they charged a certain Brahmana therewith and thus replied to the old king.
ततः स्वाचरणो विप्रः सम्मतोऽर्थविशारदः। साम्बाख्यो बढ्चो राजन् वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे॥
That learned Brahinana, of good conduct, chosen by unanimous consent, conversant with all subjects, master of all the Rics, and named Samba, tried to speak.
अनुमान्य महाराजं तत् सदः सम्प्रसाद्य च। विप्रः प्रगल्भो मेधावी स राजानमुवाच ह॥
Taking the permission of the whole assembly and with its full approbation, that learned Brahmana of great intelligence, conscious of his own powers, said these words to the king.
राजन् वाक्यं जनस्यास्य मयि सर्वं समर्पितम्। वक्ष्यामि तदहं वीर तज्जुषस्व नराधिप॥
O monarch, the answer of this assembly has been committed to my care. I shall speak it out, O hero! Do you receive it, O king.
यथा वदसि राजेन्द्र सर्वमेतत् तथा विभो। नात्र मिथ्या वचः किंचित् सुहत्त्वं नः परस्परम्॥
What you say, O king of kings, is all true, O powerful one. There is nothing in it that is in even slightly tinctured with untruth, you are our well-wisher, as, indeed, we are yours.
न जात्वस्य च वंशस्य राज्ञां कश्चित् कदाचन। राजाऽऽसीद् यः प्रजापाल: प्रजानामप्रियोऽभवत्।।१५।
Indeed, in this royal family, there never was a king who coming to rulc his subjects, became unpopular with them.
पितृवद् भ्रातृवच्चैव भवन्तः पालयन्ति नः। न र दुर्योधन: किंचिदयुक्तं कृतवान् नृपः॥
You have ruled us like fathers or brothers. King Duryodhana never did us any wrong.
यथा ब्रवीति धर्मात्मा मुनिः सत्यवतीसुतः। तथा कुरु महाराज स हि नः परमो गुरुः॥
Do that, O king, which that righteoussouled ascetic, the son of Satyavati, has said. He is, indeed out foremost of instructors.
त्यक्ता वयं तु भवता दुःखशोकपरायणाः। भविष्यामश्चिरं राजन् भवद्गुणशतैर्युताः॥
Left by you, O king, we shall have to pass our days in grief and sorrow, remembering hundreds of virtues possessed by you.
यथा शान्तनुना गुप्ता राज्ञा चित्राङ्गदेन च। भीष्मवीर्योपगूढेन पित्रा तव च पार्थिव॥ भवदुद्वीक्षणाच्चैव पाण्डुना पृथिवीक्षिता। तथा दुर्योधनेनापि राज्ञा सुपरिपालताः॥
We were well-protected and ruled by king Duryodhana even as we had been ruled by king Shantanu, or by Chitrangada, or by your father, O monarch, who was protected by the prowess of Bhishma, or by Pandu, that ruler of Earth, who was overlooked by you in all is deeds.
न स्वल्पमपि पुत्रस्ते व्यलीकं कृतवान् नृद! पितरीव सुविश्वस्तास्तस्मिन्नपि नराधिपे॥
Your son, O monarch, never did us the slightest wrong. We lived, depending on that king as trustfully as on our own father.
वयमास्म यथा सम्यग् भवतो विदितं तथा। तथा वर्षसहस्राणि कुन्तीपुत्रेण धीमता॥
It is known to you how we lived (under that ruler). Similarly we have enjoyed great happiness, O king, for thousands of years, under the rule of Kunti's son of great intelligence and wisdom.
पाल्यमाना धृतिमता सुखं विन्दामहे नृप। राजर्षीणां पुराणानां भवतां पुण्यकर्मणाम्॥ कुरुसंवरणादीनां भरतस्य च धीमतः। वृत्तं समनुयात्येष धर्मात्मा भूरिदक्षिणः॥
This righteous-souled king who celebrates sacrifices with profuse gifts, follows the conduct of the royal sages of old, belonging to our race, of meritorious decds, having Kuru and Samavara and other sand the highly intelligent Bharata among them.
नात्र वाच्यं महाराज सुसूक्ष्ममपि विद्यते। उषिताः स्म सुखं नित्यं भवता परिपालिताः॥
There is nothing, O monarch, that is even slightly censurable in the matter of this Yudhishthishta's rule. Protected and ruled by you, we have all lived in great happiness.
सुसूक्ष्मं च व्यलीकं ते सपुत्रस्य न विद्यते। यत् तु ज्ञातिविमर्देऽस्मिन्नात्थ दुर्योधनं प्रति॥ भवन्तमनुनेष्यामि तत्रापि कुरुनन्दन।
The slightest omission cannot be laid at your doors and yours sons. Regarding what you have said about Duryodhana in the matter of this destruction of kinsmen, I beg you, O delighter of the Kurus, (to listen to me).
न तद् दुर्योधनकृतं न च तद् भवता कृतम्॥ न कर्णसौबलाभ्यां च कुरवो यत् क्षयं गताः।
The carnage that has overtaken the Kurus was not caused by Duryodhana. It was not brought about by you. Nor was it brought about by Karna and Subala's son.
दैवं तत् तु विजानीमो यन्न शक्यं प्रवाधितुम्॥ दैवं पुरुषकारेण न शक्यमपि बाधितुम्।
We know that it was encompassed about by Destiny, and that it was incapable of being counteracted. Destiny is not capable of being resisied by human exertion.
अक्षौहिण्यो महाराज दशाष्टौ च समागताः॥ अष्टादशाहेन हताः कुरुभिर्योधपुगवैः। भीष्मद्रोणकृपाद्यैश्च कर्णेन च महात्मना॥ युयुधानेन वीरेण धृष्टद्युम्नेन चैव ह। चतुर्भिः पाण्डुपुत्रैश्च भीमार्जुनयमैस्तथा॥ न च क्षयोऽयं नृपते ऋते दैवबलादभूत्।
Eighteen Akshauhinis of soldiers, O monarch, were collected. In eighteen days that army was destroyed by the foremost of Kuru warriors, viz., Bhishma and Drona and others, and the great Karna, and the heroic Yuyudhana and Dhritadyumna, and by the four sons of Pandu, that is, Bhima and Arjuna and the twins. This destruction, O kiing, could not happen without the influence of Destiny.
अवश्यमेव संग्रामे क्षत्रियेण विशेषतः॥ कर्तव्यं निधनं काले मर्तव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना। तैरियं पुरुषव्याप्रैर्विद्याबाहुबलान्वितैः॥ पृथिवी निहता सर्वा सहया सरथद्विपा।
Forsooth, by Kshatriyas in particular, should enemies be killed and death encountered in battle. By those foremost of men, gifted with science and might of arms, the Earth has been exterminaled with her horses and cars and elephants.
न स राज्ञां वधे सूनुः कारणं ते महात्मनाम्॥ न भवान् न च ते भृत्या न कर्णो न स सौबलः।
Your son was not the cause of that destruction of great kings. You were not the cause, nor your servants, nor Karna, nor Subala's son.
यद् विशस्ताः कुरुश्रेष्ठ राजानश्च सहस्रशः॥ सर्वं दैवकृतं विद्धि कोऽत्र किं वक्तुमर्हति।
The destruction of those for-most ones of Kuru's race and of kings by thousands know, was engendered by Destiny. Who can say anything else in this.
गुरुर्मतो भवानस्य कृत्स्नस्य जगतः प्रभुः॥ धर्मात्मानमतस्तुभ्यमनुजानीमहे सुतम्।
You are regarded as the preceptor and the master of the whole world. We, therefore, in you presence, absolve your righteous-souled son.
लभतां वीरलोकं स ससहायो नराधिपः॥ द्विजाग्र्यैः समनुज्ञातस्त्रिदिवे मोदतां सुखम्।
Let that king, with all his associates, obtain the regions reserved for herocs Permitted by foremost of Brahmanas, let him sport blissfully in the celestial region.
प्राप्स्यते च भवान् पुण्यं धर्मे च परमां स्थितिम्॥३८ वेद धर्मं च कृत्स्नेन सम्यक् त्वं भव सुव्रतः।
You, also shall attain to great merit, and unswerving steadiness in virtue. O you of excellent vows, follow fully the duties laid down in the Vedas.
दृष्टिप्रदानमपि ते पाण्डवान् प्रति नो वृथा॥ समर्थास्त्रिदिवस्यापि पालने किं पुनः क्षितेः।
It is not necessary for either you or ourselves to look after the Pandavas. They are capable of ruling the very Heavens, what need then be said of the Earth?
अनुवय॑न्ति वा धीमन् समेषु विषमेषु च।॥ प्रजाः कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवाशीलभूषणान्।
O you of great intelligence, in weal as in woe, the subjects of this kingdom, O foremost one of Kuru's race, will obey the Pandavas who have conduct for their ornament.
ब्रह्मदेयाग्रहारांश्च पारिवहश्चि पार्थिवः॥ पूर्वराजाभिपन्नांश्च पालयत्येव पाण्डवः।
The son of Pandu makes those valuable gifts which are always to be made to foremost of twice-born persons in sacrifices and in obscquial rites, after the manner of all the great kings of yore.
दीर्घदर्शी मृदुर्दान्तः सदा वैश्रवणो यथा॥ अक्षुद्रसचिवश्चायं कुन्तीपुत्रो महामनाः।
The great son of Kunti is mild, and selfcontrolled, and is always disposed to spend as if he were a second Vaishravana. He has great ministers who attend on him.
अप्यमित्रे दयावांश्च शुचिश्च भरतर्षभः॥ ऋजु पश्यति मेधावी पुत्रवत् पालितः सदा।
He is compassionate to even his enemies. Indeed, that foremnost one of Bharata's race is of pure conduct. Gifted with great intelligence, he is perfectly straightforward in his dealings and rules and protects us like a father his children.
विप्रियं च जनस्यास्य संसर्गाद् धर्मजस्य वै॥ न करिष्यन्ति राजर्षे तथा भीमार्जुनादयः।
From association with him who is the son of Dharma, O royal sage, Bhima and Arjuna and others will never wrong us in the least.
मन्दा मृदुषु कौरव्य तीक्ष्णेष्वाशीविषोपमाः॥ वीर्यवन्तो महात्मानः पौराणां च हिते रताः।
They are mild, O you of Kuru's race, to them that are inild, and fierce like snakes of dreadful poison to them who are fierce. Endured with great energy, those high-souled ones are always devoted to the well-being of the people.
न कुन्ती न च पाञ्चाली न चोलूपी न सात्वती।।४६ अस्मिन् जने करिष्यन्ति प्रतिकूलानि कर्हिचित्।
Neither Kunti, nor your (daughter-in-law) Panchali, nor Ulupi, nor the princess of the Satvata race, will do the least wrong to these people.
भवत्कृतमिमं स्नेहं युधिष्ठिरविवर्धितम्॥ न पृष्ठतः करिष्यन्ति पौरा जानपदा जनाः।
The affection which you have shown towards us and which in Yudhishthira is seen to exist in a still larger measurc, is incapable of being forgotten by the people of the city and the provinces.
अधर्मिष्ठानपि सतः कुन्तीपुत्रा महारथाः॥ मानवान् पालयिष्यन्ति भूत्वा धर्मपरायणाः।
Those powerful car-warriors, viz., the sons of Kunti, themselves devoted to the duties of virtue, will protect and cherish the people even if these happen to be unrighteous.
स राजन् मानसं दुःखमपनीय युधिष्ठिरात्॥ कुरु कार्याणि धाणि नमस्ते पुरुषर्षभ।
Do you, therefore, O king, reinoving all anxiety of heat on account of Yudhishthira, set yourself to the accomplishment of all meritorious deeds, O foremost of men.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं धर्म्यमनुमान्य गुणोत्तरम्॥ साधु साध्विति सर्वः स जनः प्रतिगृहीतवान्।
Hearing these words, fraught with virtue and merit, of that Brahmana and approving of them every person in that assembly said, 'Excellent, Excellent' and accepted them as his own.
धृतराष्ट्रश्च तद्वाक्यमभिपूज्य पुनः पुनः॥ विसर्जयामास तदा प्रकृतीस्तु शनैः शनैः।
Dhritarashtra, also, repeatedly speaking highly of those words, slowly dismissed that assembly of his subjects.
स तैः सम्पूजितो राजा शिवेनावेक्षितस्तथा॥ प्राञ्जलिः पूजयामास तं जनं भरतर्षभ।
Thus honoured by them and looked upon with auspicious looks, the old king, O chief of Bharata's race, joined his hands and honoured them all in returi.
ततो विवेश भवनं गान्धार्या सहितो निजम्।। व्युष्टायां चैव शर्वर्यां यच्चकार निबोध तत्॥
He, then, entered his own palace with Gandhari, Listen now to what he did after that night had passed away.