Chapter 11: Pāṇḍu renounces worldly life after Kindama’s curse and withdraws with Kuntī and Mādrī to Śataśṛṅga.

Pāṇḍu blames uncontrolled desire for his family’s misfortunes and his own downfall.

vaiśampāyana uvāca॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_1] (Jaya)

taṁ vyatītamatikramya rājā svamiva bāndhavam । sabhāryaḥ śōkaduḥkhārtaḥ paryadēvayadāturaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-1॥

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)

pāṇḍuruvāca॥

Pandu said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_3] (Jaya)

satāmapi kulē jātāḥ karmaṇā bata durgatim । prāpnuvantyakr̥tātmānaḥ kāmajālavimōhitāḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-2॥

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)

śaśvaddharmātmanā jātō bāla ēva pitā mama । jīvitāntamanuprāptaḥ kāmātmaivēti naḥ śrutam ॥BORI: 1-110-3॥

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)

tasya kāmātmanaḥ kṣētrē rājñaḥ saṁyatavāgr̥ṣiḥ । kr̥ṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ sākṣādbhagavānmāmajījanat ॥BORI: 1-110-4॥

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)

tasyādya vyasanē buddhiḥ sañjātēyaṁ mamādhamā । tyaktasya dēvairanayānmr̥gayāyāṁ durātmanaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-5॥

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)

Pāṇḍu speaks of adopting a life of renunciation, non-violence, mendicancy and detachment.

mōkṣamēva vyavasyāmi bandhō hi vyasanaṁ mahat । suvr̥ttimanuvartiṣyē tāmahaṁ pituravyayām । atīva tapasātmānaṁ yōjayiṣyāmyasaṁśayam ॥BORI: 1-110-6॥

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)

tasmādēkō’hamēkāhamēkaikasminvanaspatau । caranbhaikṣaṁ munirmuṇḍaścariṣyāmi mahīmimām ॥BORI: 1-110-7॥

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)

pāṁsunā samavacchannaḥ śūnyāgārapratiśrayaḥ । vr̥kṣamūlanikētō vā tyaktasarvapriyāpriyaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-8॥

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)

na śōcanna prahr̥ṣyaṁśca tulyanindātmasaṁstutiḥ । nirāśīrnirnamaskārō nirdvandvō niṣparigrahaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-9॥

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)

na cāpyavahasankañcinna kurvanbhrukuṭīṁ kvacit । prasannavadanō nityaṁ sarvabhūtahitē rataḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-10॥

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)

jaṅgamājaṅgamaṁ sarvamavihiṁsaṁścaturvidham । svāsu prajāsviva sadā samaḥ prāṇabhr̥tāṁ prati ॥BORI: 1-110-11॥

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)

ēkakālaṁ caranbhaikṣaṁ kulāni dvē ca pañca ca । asambhavē vā bhaikṣasya carannanaśanānyapi ॥BORI: 1-110-12॥

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)

alpamalpaṁ yathābhōjyaṁ pūrvalābhēna jātu cit । nityaṁ nāticaram̐llābhē alābhē sapta pūrayan ॥BORI: 1-110-13॥

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)

vāsyaikaṁ takṣatō bāhuṁ candanēnaikamukṣataḥ । nākalyāṇaṁ na kalyāṇaṁ pradhyāyannubhayōstayōḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-14॥

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)

na jijīviṣuvatkiñcinna mumūrṣuvadācaran । maraṇaṁ jīvitaṁ caiva nābhinandanna ca dviṣan ॥BORI: 1-110-15॥

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)

yāḥ kāścijjīvatā śakyāḥ kartumabhyudayakriyāḥ । tāḥ sarvāḥ samatikramya nimēṣādiṣvavasthitaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-16॥

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)

tāsu sarvāsvavasthāsu tyaktasarvēndriyakriyaḥ । samparityaktadharmātmā sunirṇiktātmakalmaṣaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-17॥

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)

nirmuktaḥ sarvapāpēbhyō vyatītaḥ sarvavāgurāḥ । na vaśē kasyacittiṣṭhansadharmā mātariśvanaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-18॥

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)

ētayā satataṁ vr̥ttyā carannēvamprakārayā । dēhaṁ sandhārayiṣyāmi nirbhayaṁ mārgamāsthitaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-19॥

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)

nāhaṁ śvācaritē mārgē avīryakr̥paṇōcitē । svadharmātsatatāpētē ramēyaṁ vīryavarjitaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-20॥

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)

satkr̥tō’saktr̥tō vāpi yō’nyāṁ kr̥paṇacakṣuṣā । upaiti vr̥ttiṁ kāmātmā sa śunāṁ vartatē pathi ॥BORI: 1-110-21॥

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)

Pāṇḍu asks Kuntī and Mādrī to leave and announce his forest renunciation.

vaiśampāyana uvāca॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_24] (Jaya)

ēvamuktvā suduḥkhārtō niḥśvāsaparamō nr̥paḥ । avēkṣamāṇaḥ kuntīṁ ca mādrīṁ ca samabhāṣata ॥BORI: 1-110-22॥

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)

kausalyā viduraḥ kṣattā rājā ca saha bandhubhiḥ । āryā satyavatī bhīṣmastē ca rājapurōhitāḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-23॥

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)

brāhmaṇāśca mahātmānaḥ sōmapāḥ saṁśitavratāḥ । pauravr̥ddhāśca yē tatra nivasantyasmadāśrayāḥ । prasādya sarvē vaktavyāḥ pāṇḍuḥ pravrajitō vanam ॥BORI: 1-110-24॥

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)

Kuntī and Mādrī vow to share Pāṇḍu’s austerities and die rather than leave him.

niśamya vacanaṁ bharturvanavāsē dhr̥tātmanaḥ । tatsamaṁ vacanaṁ kuntī mādrī ca samabhāṣatām ॥BORI: 1-110-25॥

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)

anyē’pi hyāśramāḥ santi yē śakyā bharatarṣabha । āvābhyāṁ dharmapatnībhyāṁ saha taptvā tapō mahat । tvamēva bhavitā sārthaḥ svargasyāpi na saṁśayaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-26॥

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)

praṇidhāyēndriyagrāmaṁ bhartr̥lōkaparāyaṇē । tyaktakāmasukhē hyāvāṁ tapsyāvō vipulaṁ tapaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-27॥

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)

yadi āvāṁ mahāprājña tyakṣyasi tvaṁ viśāṁ patē । adyaivāvāṁ prahāsyāvō jītivaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-28॥

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)

Pāṇḍu accepts and adopts a forest discipline of ritual, austerity, seclusion and worship until death.

pāṇḍuruvāca॥

Pandu said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_32] (Jaya)

yadi vyavasitaṁ hyētadyuvayōrdharmasaṁhitam । svavr̥ttimanuvartiṣyē tāmahaṁ pituravyayām ॥BORI: 1-110-29॥

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)

tyaktagrāmyasukhācārastapyamānō mahattapaḥ । valkalī phalamūlāśī cariṣyāmi mahāvanē ॥BORI: 1-110-30॥

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)

agniṁ juhvannubhau kālāvubhau kālāvupaspr̥śan । kr̥śaḥ parimitāhāraścīracarmajaṭādharaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-31॥

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)

śītavātātapasahaḥ kṣutpipāsāśramānvitaḥ । tapasā duścarēṇēdaṁ śarīramupaśōṣayan ॥BORI: 1-110-32॥

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)

ēkāntaśīlī vimr̥śanpakvāpakvēna vartayan । pitr̥ndēvāṁśca vanyēna vāgbhiradbhiśca tarpayan ॥BORI: 1-110-33॥

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)

vānaprasthajanasyāpi darśanaṁ kulavāsinām । nāpriyāṇyācarañjātu kiṁ punargrāmavāsinām ॥BORI: 1-110-34॥

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)

ēvamāraṇyaśāstrāṇāmugramugrataraṁ vidhim । kāṅkṣamāṇō’hamāsiṣyē dēhasyāsya samāpanāt ॥BORI: 1-110-35॥

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)

vaiśampāyana uvāca॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_40] (Jaya)

ityēvamuktvā bhāryē tē rājā kauravavaṁśajaḥ । tataścūḍāmaṇiṁ niṣkamaṅgadē kuṇḍalāni ca । vāsāṁsi ca mahārhāṇi strīṇāmābharaṇāni ca ॥BORI: 1-110-36॥

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)

pradāya sarvaṁ viprēbhyaḥ pāṇḍuḥ punarabhāṣata । gatvā nāgapuraṁ vācyaṁ pāṇḍuḥ pravrajitō vanam ॥BORI: 1-110-37॥

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)

arthaṁ kāmaṁ sukhaṁ caiva ratiṁ ca paramātmikām । pratasthē sarvamutsr̥jya sabhāryaḥ kurupuṅgavaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-38॥

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)

Attendants return to Hastināpura with his message, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra grieves.

tatastasyānuyātrāṇi tē caiva paricārakāḥ । śrutvā bharatasiṁhasya vividhāḥ karuṇā giraḥ । bhīmamārtasvaraṁ kr̥tvā hāhēti paricukruśuḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-39॥

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)

uṣṇamaśru vimuñcantastaṁ vihāya mahīpatim । yayurnāgapuraṁ tūrṇaṁ sarvamādāya tadvacaḥ ॥BORI: 1-110-40॥

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)

śrutvā ca tēbhyastatsarvaṁ yathāvr̥ttaṁ mahāvanē । dhr̥tarāṣṭrō naraśrēṣṭhaḥ pāṇḍumēvānvaśōcata ॥BORI: 1-110-41॥

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)

Pāṇḍu journeys through the Himalayas with his wives and settles as an ascetic at Śataśṛṅga.

rājaputrastu kauravyaḥ pāṇḍurmūlaphalāśanaḥ । jagāma saha bhāryābhyāṁ tatō nāgasabhaṁ girim ॥BORI: 1-110-42॥

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)

sa caitrarathamāsādya vāriṣēṇamatītya ca । himavantamatikramya prayayau gandhamādanam ॥BORI: 1-110-43॥

He reached Chaitraratha, crossed Varishena, passed beyond the Himalaya, and journeyed on to Gandhamadana. (BORI: 1-110-43)

[PV-KDV:01_017_48] (Jaya)

rakṣyamāṇō mahābhūtaiḥ siddhaiśca paramarṣibhiḥ । uvāsa sa tadā rājā samēṣu viṣamēṣu ca ॥BORI: 1-110-44॥

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)

indradyumnasaraḥ prāpya haṁsakūṭamatītya ca । śataśr̥ṅgē mahārāja tāpasaḥ samapadyata ॥BORI: 1-110-45॥

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)