Chapter 11: Pāṇḍu renounces worldly life after Kindama’s curse and withdraws with Kuntī and Mādrī to Śataśṛṅga.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_017_1] (Jaya)
तं व्यतीतमतिक्रम्य राजा स्वमिव बान्धवम् । सभार्यः शोकदुःखार्तः पर्यदेवयदातुरः ॥BORI: १-११०-१॥
After passing the dead man, the king, together with his wife, anguished and tormented by grief, lamented for him as though he were his own kinsman. (BORI: 1-110-1)
[PV-KDV:01_017_2] (Jaya)
पाण्डुरुवाच॥
Pandu said:
[PV-KDV:01_017_3] (Jaya)
सतामपि कुले जाताः कर्मणा बत दुर्गतिम् । प्राप्नुवन्त्यकृतात्मानः कामजालविमोहिताः ॥BORI: १-११०-२॥
Alas, even those born into noble families meet with a wretched fate through their deeds when, lacking self-mastery, they are deluded by the snares of desire. (BORI: 1-110-2)
[PV-KDV:01_017_4] (Jaya)
शश्वद्धर्मात्मना जातो बाल एव पिता मम । जीवितान्तमनुप्राप्तः कामात्मैवेति नः श्रुतम् ॥BORI: १-११०-३॥
Though born to a man who was ever righteous, my father, still only a boy and wholly given to sensual pleasure, reached the end of his life—or so we have heard. (BORI: 1-110-3)
[PV-KDV:01_017_5] (Jaya)
तस्य कामात्मनः क्षेत्रे राज्ञः संयतवागृषिः । कृष्णद्वैपायनः साक्षाद्भगवान्मामजीजनत् ॥BORI: १-११०-४॥
The venerable sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana himself, restrained in speech, begot me upon the wife of that lustful king. (BORI: 1-110-4)
[PV-KDV:01_017_6] (Jaya)
तस्याद्य व्यसने बुद्धिः सञ्जातेयं ममाधमा । त्यक्तस्य देवैरनयान्मृगयायां दुरात्मनः ॥BORI: १-११०-५॥
Today this base inclination toward his vice has arisen in me; wicked as I am, I have been abandoned by the gods because of my misconduct while hunting. (BORI: 1-110-5)
[PV-KDV:01_017_7] (Jaya)
मोक्षमेव व्यवस्यामि बन्धो हि व्यसनं महत् । सुवृत्तिमनुवर्तिष्ये तामहं पितुरव्ययाम् । अतीव तपसात्मानं योजयिष्याम्यसंशयम् ॥BORI: १-११०-६॥
I resolve upon liberation alone, for bondage is a great affliction. I shall follow my father’s imperishable, virtuous way of life and devote myself to the severest austerities—of this there is no doubt. (BORI: 1-110-6)
[PV-KDV:01_017_8] (Jaya)
तस्मादेकोऽहमेकाहमेकैकस्मिन्वनस्पतौ । चरन्भैक्षं मुनिर्मुण्डश्चरिष्यामि महीमिमाम् ॥BORI: १-११०-७॥
Therefore, alone, spending just one day at each tree, I shall wander this earth as a shaven-headed sage, begging for alms. (BORI: 1-110-7)
[PV-KDV:01_017_9] (Jaya)
पांसुना समवच्छन्नः शून्यागारप्रतिश्रयः । वृक्षमूलनिकेतो वा त्यक्तसर्वप्रियाप्रियः ॥BORI: १-११०-८॥
covered with dust, sheltering in empty houses or dwelling at the foot of trees, having given up all likes and dislikes; (BORI: 1-110-8)
[PV-KDV:01_017_10] (Jaya)
न शोचन्न प्रहृष्यंश्च तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः । निराशीर्निर्नमस्कारो निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः ॥BORI: १-११०-९॥
neither grieving nor rejoicing, regarding blame and self-praise alike, free from expectations, offering no salutations, beyond all opposites, and possessing nothing; (BORI: 1-110-9)
[PV-KDV:01_017_11] (Jaya)
न चाप्यवहसन्कञ्चिन्न कुर्वन्भ्रुकुटीं क्वचित् । प्रसन्नवदनो नित्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतः ॥BORI: १-११०-१०॥
never ridiculing anyone or ever frowning, always serene in countenance and devoted to the welfare of all beings; (BORI: 1-110-10)
[PV-KDV:01_017_12] (Jaya)
जङ्गमाजङ्गमं सर्वमविहिंसंश्चतुर्विधम् । स्वासु प्रजास्विव सदा समः प्राणभृतां प्रति ॥BORI: १-११०-११॥
harming none of the four kinds of moving and unmoving creatures, and always impartial toward all living beings, as toward his own subjects; (BORI: 1-110-11)
[PV-KDV:01_017_13] (Jaya)
एककालं चरन्भैक्षं कुलानि द्वे च पञ्च च । असम्भवे वा भैक्षस्य चरन्ननशनान्यपि ॥BORI: १-११०-१२॥
Seeking alms only once a day from two or five households, and also fasting when alms were unobtainable. (BORI: 1-110-12)
[PV-KDV:01_017_14] (Jaya)
अल्पमल्पं यथाभोज्यं पूर्वलाभेन जातु चित् । नित्यं नातिचरँल्लाभे अलाभे सप्त पूरयन् ॥BORI: १-११०-१३॥
taking a little at a time, only as much as he can eat, never going farther once he has received alms, and, if he receives none, completing a round of seven households… (BORI: 1-110-13)
[PV-KDV:01_017_15] (Jaya)
वास्यैकं तक्षतो बाहुं चन्दनेनैकमुक्षतः । नाकल्याणं न कल्याणं प्रध्यायन्नुभयोस्तयोः ॥BORI: १-११०-१४॥
thinking neither ill nor well of either of the two—one who cuts off one of his arms with an adze and one who anoints the other with sandalwood (BORI: 1-110-14)
[PV-KDV:01_017_16] (Jaya)
न जिजीविषुवत्किञ्चिन्न मुमूर्षुवदाचरन् । मरणं जीवितं चैव नाभिनन्दन्न च द्विषन् ॥BORI: १-११०-१५॥
Acting neither like one who wished to live nor like one who wished to die, neither rejoicing in nor hating death or life. (BORI: 1-110-15)
[PV-KDV:01_017_17] (Jaya)
याः काश्चिज्जीवता शक्याः कर्तुमभ्युदयक्रियाः । ताः सर्वाः समतिक्रम्य निमेषादिष्ववस्थितः ॥BORI: १-११०-१६॥
Having gone beyond all the acts conducive to prosperity that a living person is capable of performing, he remained in such activities as blinking and the like. (BORI: 1-110-16)
[PV-KDV:01_017_18] (Jaya)
तासु सर्वास्ववस्थासु त्यक्तसर्वेन्द्रियक्रियः । सम्परित्यक्तधर्मात्मा सुनिर्णिक्तात्मकल्मषः ॥BORI: १-११०-१७॥
in all those states, having abandoned every activity of the senses, wholly relinquished dharma, and thoroughly cleansed the impurity of his self… (BORI: 1-110-17)
[PV-KDV:01_017_19] (Jaya)
निर्मुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो व्यतीतः सर्ववागुराः । न वशे कस्यचित्तिष्ठन्सधर्मा मातरिश्वनः ॥BORI: १-११०-१८॥
freed from all sins, beyond every snare, subject to no one, and sharing the nature of the wind... (BORI: 1-110-18)
[PV-KDV:01_017_20] (Jaya)
एतया सततं वृत्त्या चरन्नेवम्प्रकारया । देहं सन्धारयिष्यामि निर्भयं मार्गमास्थितः ॥BORI: १-११०-१९॥
Constantly living in this way, I shall sustain my body while following a path free from fear. (BORI: 1-110-19)
[PV-KDV:01_017_21] (Jaya)
नाहं श्वाचरिते मार्गे अवीर्यकृपणोचिते । स्वधर्मात्सततापेते रमेयं वीर्यवर्जितः ॥BORI: १-११०-२०॥
I would not, devoid of valor, delight in a path trodden by dogs, suited to the weak and wretched and always removed from one’s own duty. (BORI: 1-110-20)
[PV-KDV:01_017_22] (Jaya)
सत्कृतोऽसक्तृतो वापि योऽन्यां कृपणचक्षुषा । उपैति वृत्तिं कामात्मा स शुनां वर्तते पथि ॥BORI: १-११०-२१॥
Whether honored or dishonored, a man ruled by desire who cringingly resorts to another way of life follows the path of dogs. (BORI: 1-110-21)
[PV-KDV:01_017_23] (Jaya)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_017_24] (Jaya)
एवमुक्त्वा सुदुःखार्तो निःश्वासपरमो नृपः । अवेक्षमाणः कुन्तीं च माद्रीं च समभाषत ॥BORI: १-११०-२२॥
Having spoken thus, the king, tormented by deep sorrow and sighing heavily, looked at Kunti and Madri and addressed them: (BORI: 1-110-22)
[PV-KDV:01_017_25] (Jaya)
कौसल्या विदुरः क्षत्ता राजा च सह बन्धुभिः । आर्या सत्यवती भीष्मस्ते च राजपुरोहिताः ॥BORI: १-११०-२३॥
Kausalya; Vidura, the chamberlain; the king with his kinsmen; the noble Satyavati; Bhishma; and those royal priests… (BORI: 1-110-23)
[PV-KDV:01_017_26] (Jaya)
ब्राह्मणाश्च महात्मानः सोमपाः संशितव्रताः । पौरवृद्धाश्च ये तत्र निवसन्त्यस्मदाश्रयाः । प्रसाद्य सर्वे वक्तव्याः पाण्डुः प्रव्रजितो वनम् ॥BORI: १-११०-२४॥
and the high-minded Brahmins who drink Soma and keep strict vows, as well as the elderly citizens living there under our protection—all should be conciliated and told, “Pandu has departed for the forest.” (BORI: 1-110-24)
[PV-KDV:01_017_27] (Jaya)
निशम्य वचनं भर्तुर्वनवासे धृतात्मनः । तत्समं वचनं कुन्ती माद्री च समभाषताम् ॥BORI: १-११०-२५॥
Hearing their husband's words, resolute as he was in dwelling in the forest, Kunti and Madri replied to him in like terms. (BORI: 1-110-25)
[PV-KDV:01_017_28] (Jaya)
अन्येऽपि ह्याश्रमाः सन्ति ये शक्या भरतर्षभ । आवाभ्यां धर्मपत्नीभ्यां सह तप्त्वा तपो महत् । त्वमेव भविता सार्थः स्वर्गस्यापि न संशयः ॥BORI: १-११०-२६॥
There are other modes of ascetic life, O bull of Bharata, that you can pursue together with us, your two lawful wives. After performing great austerities, you will surely attain even heaven; there is no doubt of it. (BORI: 1-110-26)
[PV-KDV:01_017_29] (Jaya)
प्रणिधायेन्द्रियग्रामं भर्तृलोकपरायणे । त्यक्तकामसुखे ह्यावां तप्स्यावो विपुलं तपः ॥BORI: १-११०-२७॥
Restraining all our senses, devoted to our husband’s world, and renouncing sensual pleasures, we shall undertake great austerities. (BORI: 1-110-27)
[PV-KDV:01_017_30] (Jaya)
यदि आवां महाप्राज्ञ त्यक्ष्यसि त्वं विशां पते । अद्यैवावां प्रहास्यावो जीतिवं नात्र संशयः ॥BORI: १-११०-२८॥
If you abandon us, O most wise lord of the people, we shall give up our lives this very day—of this there is no doubt. (BORI: 1-110-28)
[PV-KDV:01_017_31] (Jaya)
पाण्डुरुवाच॥
Pandu said:
[PV-KDV:01_017_32] (Jaya)
यदि व्यवसितं ह्येतद्युवयोर्धर्मसंहितम् । स्ववृत्तिमनुवर्तिष्ये तामहं पितुरव्ययाम् ॥BORI: १-११०-२९॥
If this resolve of yours is indeed settled and in accordance with dharma, I shall follow that enduring way of life of my father. (BORI: 1-110-29)
[PV-KDV:01_017_33] (Jaya)
त्यक्तग्राम्यसुखाचारस्तप्यमानो महत्तपः । वल्कली फलमूलाशी चरिष्यामि महावने ॥BORI: १-११०-३०॥
Renouncing worldly pleasures and ways, I will dwell in the great forest, clad in bark, living on fruits and roots, and practicing severe austerities. (BORI: 1-110-30)
[PV-KDV:01_017_34] (Jaya)
अग्निं जुह्वन्नुभौ कालावुभौ कालावुपस्पृशन् । कृशः परिमिताहारश्चीरचर्मजटाधरः ॥BORI: १-११०-३१॥
offering oblations into the fire morning and evening, performing ablutions morning and evening, lean from a restricted diet, and wearing bark cloth, animal skin, and matted hair… (BORI: 1-110-31)
[PV-KDV:01_017_35] (Jaya)
शीतवातातपसहः क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमान्वितः । तपसा दुश्चरेणेदं शरीरमुपशोषयन् ॥BORI: १-११०-३२॥
enduring cold, wind, and heat, afflicted by hunger, thirst, and weariness, and wasting away his body through arduous austerity... (BORI: 1-110-32)
[PV-KDV:01_017_36] (Jaya)
एकान्तशीली विमृशन्पक्वापक्वेन वर्तयन् । पितृन्देवांश्च वन्येन वाग्भिरद्भिश्च तर्पयन् ॥BORI: १-११०-३३॥
living in solitude and reflection, subsisting on ripe and unripe forest produce, and satisfying the ancestors and gods with wild food, prayers, and water… (BORI: 1-110-33)
[PV-KDV:01_017_37] (Jaya)
वानप्रस्थजनस्यापि दर्शनं कुलवासिनाम् । नाप्रियाण्याचरञ्जातु किं पुनर्ग्रामवासिनाम् ॥BORI: १-११०-३४॥
following the way of forest dwellers and never doing anything displeasing to members of my household, much less to villagers… (BORI: 1-110-34)
[PV-KDV:01_017_38] (Jaya)
एवमारण्यशास्त्राणामुग्रमुग्रतरं विधिम् । काङ्क्षमाणोऽहमासिष्ये देहस्यास्य समापनात् ॥BORI: १-११०-३५॥
Thus, aspiring to an ever more rigorous discipline prescribed by the forest codes, I shall remain until this body comes to an end. (BORI: 1-110-35)
[PV-KDV:01_017_39] (Jaya)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_017_40] (Jaya)
इत्येवमुक्त्वा भार्ये ते राजा कौरववंशजः । ततश्चूडामणिं निष्कमङ्गदे कुण्डलानि च । वासांसि च महार्हाणि स्त्रीणामाभरणानि च ॥BORI: १-११०-३६॥
Having said this to his two wives, the king, a descendant of Kuru, then his crest jewel, gold necklace, armlets, earrings, costly garments, and the women’s ornaments… (BORI: 1-110-36)
[PV-KDV:01_017_41] (Jaya)
प्रदाय सर्वं विप्रेभ्यः पाण्डुः पुनरभाषत । गत्वा नागपुरं वाच्यं पाण्डुः प्रव्रजितो वनम् ॥BORI: १-११०-३७॥
After giving all this to the Brahmins, Pandu spoke again: “Go to Nagapura and announce that Pandu has retired to the forest.” (BORI: 1-110-37)
[PV-KDV:01_017_42] (Jaya)
अर्थं कामं सुखं चैव रतिं च परमात्मिकाम् । प्रतस्थे सर्वमुत्सृज्य सभार्यः कुरुपुङ्गवः ॥BORI: १-११०-३८॥
The foremost of the Kurus set out with his wives, abandoning wealth, desire, happiness, and even the highest sensual pleasure. (BORI: 1-110-38)
[PV-KDV:01_017_43] (Jaya)
ततस्तस्यानुयात्राणि ते चैव परिचारकाः । श्रुत्वा भरतसिंहस्य विविधाः करुणा गिरः । भीममार्तस्वरं कृत्वा हाहेति परिचुक्रुशुः ॥BORI: १-११०-३९॥
Then his retinue and attendants, hearing the Bharata lion’s many sorrowful words, raised a terrible cry of anguish and wailed, “Alas! Alas!” (BORI: 1-110-39)
[PV-KDV:01_017_44] (Jaya)
उष्णमश्रु विमुञ्चन्तस्तं विहाय महीपतिम् । ययुर्नागपुरं तूर्णं सर्वमादाय तद्वचः ॥BORI: १-११०-४०॥
Shedding hot tears, they left the king and hastened to Nagapura, taking his entire message with them. (BORI: 1-110-40)
[PV-KDV:01_017_45] (Jaya)
श्रुत्वा च तेभ्यस्तत्सर्वं यथावृत्तं महावने । धृतराष्ट्रो नरश्रेष्ठः पाण्डुमेवान्वशोचत ॥BORI: १-११०-४१॥
Hearing from them everything that had happened in the great forest, Dhritarashtra, the best of men, mourned for Pandu. (BORI: 1-110-41)
[PV-KDV:01_017_46] (Jaya)
राजपुत्रस्तु कौरव्यः पाण्डुर्मूलफलाशनः । जगाम सह भार्याभ्यां ततो नागसभं गिरिम् ॥BORI: १-११०-४२॥
But the Kaurava prince Pandu, living on roots and fruits, then went with his two wives to Mount Nagasabha. (BORI: 1-110-42)
[PV-KDV:01_017_47] (Jaya)
स चैत्ररथमासाद्य वारिषेणमतीत्य च । हिमवन्तमतिक्रम्य प्रययौ गन्धमादनम् ॥BORI: १-११०-४३॥
He reached Chaitraratha, crossed Varishena, passed beyond the Himalaya, and journeyed on to Gandhamadana. (BORI: 1-110-43)
[PV-KDV:01_017_48] (Jaya)
रक्ष्यमाणो महाभूतैः सिद्धैश्च परमर्षिभिः । उवास स तदा राजा समेषु विषमेषु च ॥BORI: १-११०-४४॥
Protected by mighty beings, Siddhas, and great seers, the king then dwelt on level ground and in rugged terrain alike. (BORI: 1-110-44)
[PV-KDV:01_017_49] (Jaya)
इन्द्रद्युम्नसरः प्राप्य हंसकूटमतीत्य च । शतशृङ्गे महाराज तापसः समपद्यत ॥BORI: १-११०-४५॥
After reaching Lake Indradyumna and crossing Hamsakuta, the ascetic arrived at Shatashringa, O great king. (BORI: 1-110-45)
[PV-KDV:01_017_50] (Jaya)